366 
merable others which daily came under his 
obfervation. The fituation of parents, in fuch 
circumftances, he faid, reminded him of an 
old ftory, which he had read of a man and his 
wife, having three children, and who, in all 
the miferies of famine, were reduced to the 
dreadful neceffity of confulting which of their 
children they-fliould facrifice to preferve the 
exiftence of themfelves and the remainder. 
In this deliberation, when they {poke of the 
firft, he muft not be the viétim, for he was 
their eldeft born ; the fecond muft not be fa- 
crificed, for he was the darling of his mo- 
ther; and the third muft be preferved, as 
being the laft pledge of their affection. In 
this affeéting embarraffment, the miferable 
couple at length came to the refolution of 
perifhing themfelves, fooner than infli& death 
upon their children. Such, he verily believed 
"to be now nearly the fituation of many pa- 
rents in this country. They muft all be af- 
$e€ted by the reprefentation of fuch trage- 
dies in real life; and he fhould conclude with 
moving, <¢ That an humbie Addrefs and Peti- 
tion be prefented to his Majeity, praying him 
to convene his Parliament, in order to take 
into their ferious confideration the high price 
of provifions, and to adopt fuch meafures for 
reducing the fame, asthey, in their wifdom, 
may think proper.” 
Major Stone feconded the motion, which 
was put to the fhew of hands, and carried 
unanimoufly. 
Mr. Thorn then read the Addrefs and Peti- 
tion. 
Mr. Durant then addreffed the Livery.— 
He, in a ftrain of eloquence, dwelt on the 
diftrefles of the poor at great length; and, 
when he came to the Foreftallers, he had no 
fcruple in faying, ‘* That whatever may he- 
come of them in this life, the heavieft dam- 
mation that ever was the lot of the human 
foul would await them in the other world.” 
He concluded with faying that, -« You are the 
inhabitants of the firft commercial city in the 
world. Your example will be followed by 
other Corporations, as one worthy of imita- 
tion. Come forward, then, and give your 
opinion freely on this great occafion.” 
Mr. Kemble now attempted in vain to ob- 
tain a hearing ;. but after fome private con- 
verfation the Lord Mayor came forward, and 
faid, «* The worthy gentleman has made ita 
perfonal requeit to me, that I would endea- 
vour to procure your attention, while he ad- 
dreffes you.” 
The hall was filent, and Mr. Kemble 
fpoke: ‘* When Parliament fits, I fhall be 
happy to meet you day after day, as long as 
you pleafe. The end you with to accomplifh, 
the Relief of the Poor, I am ready to promote 
to the laft fhilling Ihave. I am ready, if 
neceflary, to facrifice my life for it; but I 
think that we fhould come to refolutions 
when Parliament is fitting.” 
State of Public Affairs in Oficcer, 1800. 
[Nov. J, 
“The Addrefs and Petitlon were put and 
agreed to. 
Mr. Thorn then moved, ** That the Ad- 
drefs be prefented to his, Majefty on the 
throne; and that the Sheriffs be requefted to 
wait upon the Sovereign to know when he 
would be gracioufly pleafed to receive the 
fame.” This motion was carried unani- 
moufly. 
Another Common-Hall was called the 9th 
of O&ober in order to explain to the Livery 
the fituation in which the Sheriffs were 
placed,.in confequence of the two Refolutions 
of the Livery on Friday laft. The Sheriffs 
had been down to Weymouth, and what 
paffed there the Lord Mayor could not better 
defcribe than by reading a letter which had 
been addrefled to him upon that fubject, 
figned John Perring and Thomas Cadell, It 
ftated, that in obedience to the Refolutions 
of the Livery, they had proceeded to Wey- 
mouth ; obtained an early audience of his 
Majefty, and acquainted him, that they had 
waited on his Majefty, humbly to know 
when his Majefty would be pleafed to receive 
the Addrefs of the Livery. His Majefty’s 
anfwer was this: ‘* Be pleafed to inform the 
Livery that I will receive their Addrefs and 
Petition at the Levee,on Wednefday the 15th 
inftant.”” The letter proceeded to ftate, that 
the Sheriffs had requefted leave for the City 
Remembrancer, by whom they were accom- 
panied, to read to his Majefty the Refolu~ 
tions of the Livery for prefenting the Addrefs 
upon the Throne; upon which his Majefty 
exprefied himfelf in thefe terms, ‘* I am al- 
ways ready to receive the Petitions of my 
fubjeéts; but I am the beft judge where I 
fhali receive them.” 
After returning thanks to the Lord Mayor 
and Sheriffs, the Livery agreed to pafs nearly 
the fame Petition as they did laft Friday. 
Finding the Common-Hall, at which the 
Livery attended, was not likely to be anfwer- 
ed from the Throne, the City let that drop 
for the prefent. 
At a Court of Common Council on the 
14th of Odtober, prefent the Lord Mayor, 
and Lord Mayor ele&, twelve Aldermen, &c, 
-it was unanimouily refolyed to prefent a Pe- 
tition to his Maje{ty on the Throne, to call 
an early meeting of Parliament, to confider 
of a remedy for the prefent high price of Pro- 
vifions. 
After the Levee, the next day, the Sheriffs 
of London had an audience to know when his 
Majeity would receive the Addrefs of the 
City. His Majeity told them, the next day. 
On which day his Majefty anfwered the Ad- 
drefs of the City in nearly the following 
words: ‘* ] am defirous at all times to take 
the advice of my Parliament; and, previous 
to receiving your Petition, I kad given orders 
for its convocation.” 
ALPHA- 
