SD779.1. Samuel Moulton-Barrett (uncle) to A. Geddes
Addendum to The Brownings’ Correspondence, vol. 3.
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[ca. September 1834] [1]
Sir
I have to acknowledge the receipt of a requisition to call a public meeting of the inhabitants of St Ann’s. No one can be more desirous than I am to afford full opportunity to every one to review the privilege which the constitution has given him, to give utterance to his feelings. But there may be consideration which could make it politic at times, & under jealous circumstances, to put this privilege under restraint. I would suggest to the requisitionists whether at this moment, & whereat the feeling, (generated by the late disturbances of your particular district) is not yet removed, whether it would be discreet to hold a public meeting where in the warmth of discussion much might be said which have a contrary effect to restoring peace. If the object of the requisitionists be to complain of the inefficiency of the Magistrates either in connexion with the cause which led to the disturbance, or as producing the present insufficiency of work as the head of the application, I should appeal to the requisitionists themselves whether it would be the proper course to adopt to urge their complaints at a public meeting where the parties complained of can not properly attend, & the more so, where the law has distinctly prescribed the mode where redress is to be sought, & obtained: Great as is my respect for the requisitionists, & anxious as I should be to meet their wishes in every way which did not clash with my duty, I must for the reasons I have above assigned, decline to call a public meeting. I feel the less reluctant in coming to this decision, as the object of the requisitionists may be achieved by an application to any other Magistrate who may not entertain the same feelings as myself.
Publication: None traced.
Source: File copy at Eton College Library.
1. Approximate dating, based on the letter being a response to SD779, dated 24 August 1834.
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