was a fearful agitation of the public mind, and a very strong political fever was raging-much impatience greatest dissatisfaction with system of government-many indications of turbulence and sedition-and therefore this and similar meetings became absolutely necessary to allay such ferment, and he hoped that similar meetings would frequently be held.

Unrivalled specimen of sound logic and demonstrative reasoning!

The political wisdom of this train of thought is a secondary consideration.

The Orator declared that the increasing intelligence of all ranks-the increased diffusion of knowledge-the increased weight and influence and more extended operation of public opinion and of the public press (shortly afterwards declared to be so gagged and confined that even the license of private speech was lost) now-at this particular moment-imperiously required such indiscriminate meetings as the present-which might have been inexpedient in a less enlightened state of society, and when the influence of public opinion was less powerful., wona od poin ̧

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Axiom of political wisdom!o 20 ni All writers on political economy and the history of nations have hitherto supposed that such indiscriminate public meetings weres means more adapted to a rude state of society, when public

opinion had less influence and control, and the press much less operation and effect, and the people no other mode of shewing their sentiments: But these delusions are now swept away with the errors of heathen mythology, and it now appears that such means as these indiscriminate meetings of ascertaining and collecting and giving effect to popular opinion, and due weight to the intelligence and knowledge and political influence and control of the people, become more necessary in proportion as the control of public opinion advances, as the influence of the public press is extended, as all other means of ascertaining and giving effect to the sentiments of the people are increased.

How great a thing it is to be a learned whig! -Indeed, Sir, I know no maxim more certain than that those who hold opinions should be able to make them known." (Hear.)

As the composition of this learned critic is by no means of the old English school (witness innumerable grammatical blunders and frequent faulty composition in the 13 Resolutions), there may be some doubt respecting the sentiment, which, in this energetic declaration, he intended to express.

- If his meaning was, that those who hold opinions on matters of state should be able, idé. ought to be of such a rank in the scale of intel

lect (approved style !), and to possess so great a portion of understanding and education as to be able to assign rational grounds for such opinions, then all must admire the appropriate felicity and direct application of the remark on this particular occasion.

If his meaning was, that those who hold opinions should be able, i. e. ought to have opportunities and means of making them public without the intervention of the press-then WILL congratulates the learned critic on his correct acquaintance with, and happy use of, the English language. WILL supposes the audience understood the sentence in the latter sense, in which case it is a striking proof of the increased diffusion of knowledge, increasing intelligence, just senti ments of all ranks, &c. &c. &c.

"But, Sir, I have to state, that that" (viz. holding similar meetings) “ which was always right is now necessary."

Qu. Did not the Orator commence with representing the propriety of such meetings to be extremely doubtful? or is there any other reason which a statesman, or any sound thinking man, could admit to be sufficient to make these meetings right than political necessity?

Questions to be debated at the next meeting of the speculative society, Mr. Moncrieff in the chair, and the debate to be opened by Mr. Jeffrey, Mr. Murray, and Mr. Cockburn.

Radical evil, which now threatens the country, is the disunion of the higher and lower classes, and therefore" (to heal the breach and connect the two classes of society, it is presumed) "the appli'cation of such meetings" (this metaphorical expression not particularly clear) "became neces

sary in this state of the public mind."

As the salvation of the country depends on this important truth, it is much to be regretted that the physical discomforts of the intellectual audience here occasioned a hubbub (see Star) and confusion, which drowned the voice of the Orator, and gave occasion to a very consolatory remark from the Chairman, viz. That a great crowd, he was told, had been obliged to leave the doors without gaining admission (a crowd which Will Williamson did not see, though on the spot), ergo, those within ought to be thankful that they were there, however squeezed. But might not some portion of the audience be forcibly impressed with the importance of the learned Orator's axiom, that all" who hold opinions should be able to make them known," i. e. should have the opportunity of doing so an axiom not illustrated or carried into practice in the accom, modation found for the intellectual audience ase sembled to listen to Mr. Jeffrey, not to speak themselves.

The illustration of the important truth an

nounced before this unfortunate interruption, was not resumed after the confusion had subsided.

The Orator then broke out into loud praises of the orderly appearance of the meeting, and of his very great anxiety that the meeting should break up without disturbance---an anxiety which he stated very strongly, because he felt assured that there was, in point of fact, not the smallest reason for any such anxiety.

The learned chairman, at the close of the meeting, forcibly expressed his anxiety that the audience should not only scale, but return home peaceably!!!-without breaking windows? or what? But the learned chairman did not assign the same reason for feeling this anxiety which had been stated by his learned friend, namely, that it was perfectly groundless. But if groundless, then, might not the fréquent repetition of this topic, and the constant congratulations of the audience on their quiet and orderly behaviour, while they did remain quiet, be justly taken as an insult by this most intellectual and most enlightened au dience whom the world e'er saw assembled?

Mr. MONCRIEFF expressed his confidence, that those present "would repair to their houses peaceably, like people who have been exercising one of "their great constitutional rights!"

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