[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 21 Dec 1816 - Local News (1)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 21 Dec 1816   (p. 2, col 6 and p. 3, col. 1-2 + 4)

 

THE Subscription for the employment of the Labouring Poor in this City, now amounts to the very handsome sum of Seven Hundred and
Thirty-three pounds Ten Shillings; and about two hundred and forty individuals are at work in different parts of the town and
neighbourhood. Many additional hands were taken into employment yesterday and various plans, calculated to ensure them useful
labour, have been taken into consideration by the Committee, who evince the most laudable attention to the duties of the important
trust which they have undertaken. 

 

------------------------------ 

 

In consequence of a Public Advertisement calling on the Friends of Parliamentary Reform, a meeting took place on Monday evening
last, at the Green Dragon, in Scotch Street, to consider of the propriety of calling a Public Meeting to petition for Reform, &c.
&c. But the Friends of Reform in Carlisle have the most novel ways and means imaginable in conducting their business. In the early
part of the day mentioned, as the Mayor was walking in the street, two perfect strangers approached him, and put into his hands the
following document:- 

 

"To the Worshipful the Mayor and Magistrates of Carlisle. 

 

"WORSHIPFUL SIRS,-According to public advertisement, a meeting is to be held this evening, at Mrs. ELLIOT's, sign of the Green
Dragon, Scotch Street, Carlisle, to take into consideration the propriety of signing a Requisition to the Worshipfull the Mayor. 

 

"This therefore is to give you notice to attend the same should you think proper. 

 

"Carlisle, Dec 16, 1816. 

                                         "Wilford LAWSON. 

                                         "Robert RICHIE. 

                                         "Joseph JACQUES. 

                                         "Robart DONALDSON." 

 

Thus these sapient politicians call on his Worship to attend a meeting in order to sign a Requisition to himself! The meeting took
place, but we believe the Mayor did not take the Chair; neither are we quite sure that he was present; we are rather inclined to
think he was not! Some few persons attended out of curiosity, expecting much amusement; the principal actors in the scene were
weavers. One of them held forth, but as it would be impossible to do justice to his oration, we pass it over rather than mangle it.
A few dolorous sentences were dealt out by some others, whose names we could not ascertain.-On Wednesday, the following Requisition
was sent to the Mayor:- 

 

"To the Worshipful the Mayor of Carlisle. 

 

"SIR,-We, the undersigned house-holders of the City of Carlisle, in this season of unparalleled distress, respectfully request you
to call a Public Meeting of the Inhabitants of this City, for considering the cause of the same, and the expediency of presenting a
petition to the Prince Regent and the Parliament, praying a Reform in the Commons' House, and the abolishment of all useless Places,
Sinecures, and unmerited Pensions. By so doing you will confer a lasting obligation on your's, the undersigned, &c. &c. 

 

          "Michael RENWICK.             "Edward ARMSTRONG. 

          "Ephm. HARRIS.                   "William GREGSON. 

          "Robert BATTERSBY.           "John THOMPSON. 

          "John REED.                         "William BURNS. 

          "Robt. BARNES.                    "John MARRS. 

          "William MORLEY.               "Peter PEEL. 

          "John HUTTON.                   "James CULLEN. 

          "John CORBETT.                  "John BELL. 

          "John YOUNG.                      "James HURST. 

          "Charles DUTTON.               "Geo. M'CARTHY. 

          "John MURDOCH.               "James LENNOX. 

          "Thomas ABRAHAM.            "Wm. WILKIE. 

          "Jas. M'CADDAM.                "George KIRK." 

 

To this requisition the Mayor returned the following answer:- 

 

"At this time, I think it improper to call a Public Meeting of the Inhabitants of this City, as such a measure might endanger the
public peace, which it is my duty to preserve and protect.-Carlisle, Dec. 20, 1816." 

 

The only person whom we have been able to make out from among the twenty-six whose names are signed, is the bellman, Geo. M'CARTHY;
a man certainly very fit for a public meeting, for, without a pun, he may truly be said to be an orator by trade! How the matter
will end, we know not, for we are not in the secret, but it is generally expected that there will be an exhibition somewhere. The
leaders have learnt their lesson, and without vent it would burst them. The speeches, we understand, are already written, if not
printed, and pretty well got off by rote, and a strong party have their cue when to applaud. We hope no mischievous wag will make
his appearance to give a turn to the discussion, for if there should, the whole machinery must inevitably stop. This would be cruel
in the extreme; but fellow citizens, we have better hopes of you; we are sure you will not attempt to disturb a triumph which so
seldom can be enjoyed, and in the accomplishment of which so many anxious hours have been spent, perhaps, even when you, fellow
citizens, were snug between your sheets. Let them strut their little hour; you know the Latin proverb,-Quod est violentum, non est
durabile. 

 

 

[to be continued] 

 

 

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