Newspaper Page Text
From a London paper of OSlober 24.
WF, 3 f ?,11N 3TE R. MEE f IN: G.
Avery numerous and rtTpeQabl;;
meeting of the eUifciors of Weftminilef
look plane on Thu: Hay tad, in Weft
minder-Hull, to cnnfo.'er of the pro
priety of add retting his m a jetty on
the late Rortugtiefe cohycntio::.
Mr. Wilhart opened the bulinefs,
b/ Hating (he pur pro !< for which the
debtors had aflembLd. A, ‘the jutt
hopes and expefc&tfoqs of the nation
bad been fruflrntc.l, he might fay
blade' 1 , by the di Graceful re felt c (
the la:’ events in Portugal, they wer
called upon by every coufoteration of
right and duty to avldrefs the tlrror.e,
and petition his majesty for a'full and
efficient inquiry, that the guilty might
be discovered, and adequate puniih 1
men? inflicted. He” would aft; any
gentleman who heard him, if after t!i
battle Vffinier?, he would hive com
pounded for any thing tab than an tin
conditional Loren ler ? Why thro, i:
could not be. denied that an enquire
was neccftery. In that- inquiry :mr
points thatr tme ougii; to be rarefulb. j
fitted. Whether the a troy had a fuf-j
ficient proportion of c vtlry and -he a ]
vv artillery. Whether vise attention
bad Iven ptai to (lie appointment of;
fit co in man dor—and. v/hethcV ary pri
proper motives h,d influenced the
.choiceof thole by whom that aoool.;?-
ment had been made, &c. The cici
sens of Loado;1 had alresdv piefont-
C.. an it *ref- on this fubjceL •n l eve- !
r. friend of h:s country mud regret
the answer that had da ?n givtn. Con
Adoring this as the auLvecs of the mir>-
sttnrs,- he would make a few cbfeiva
situs upon., te. In the t ; n-s of the l
Charles’s add j-unes, wh n the doc j
tnne of pafiivc obedience was curren: j
among many, kw.h an answer might
rmt have appeared very c/m/oTTmy ;
Hut in our days, when fuel) alTird!
nations were so pcnerrdly crw'o led, it;
was a matter of surprise that any mini-!
fler should have pri-fumed to adyiL;
his rua jetty to check his fubjc£b in j
the exercifo of their confiitunonal j
rights and duties. The ft ogle inflance
of an inquiry into the recent failure a:
-Buenos Ayres was not fufficie-r.t
to prove that there could be no
backwardness in proceeding to i mil
and impartial invettigation v-dth re
fpect to the convct.tif n. It was w li
known that ‘here had been no inquiry
with refprtd to the retrograde march at
Dur.kiik —-the convention a: the MM
uer —and the failure at Ferrol. The
plain meaning of the answer teemed to
be ibis. Piv vour taxes, and come
with congratulatory addrefles as often
as you think proper, but do not pre
lume to meddle with the aids of go
verr.rrc-u ” Some, who heard him,
nvtgh p t haps have lived in the rein
oi George 11. As he him.fell v/asj
warmly attached to the family of Han-:
ove>, he would rel .tern anecdote. |
alien th.c duke of Cumberland, who!
had by the victory cd Cullodcn secur
ed the polfvffion of the Englifti throne
to Ids family, bad concluded th? dif
gracefnl convention of Clutter-Seven,
his father would not tee him, hut dis
rot fled bun from his employment, to
which he was never again admittted.
His majesty knew the duty of his tta-1
tioti; he felt as a parent, but he ailed !
as a sovereign. The minitters, by the
answer which they had given to the
corporation of London, peihaps,
thought to preclude any further ad
dttils on this fubjeft ; but the cfFeft
has not answered their expectations in
4
Wettmimfier, and from what had al
ready appeared, ti c expedient would
answer as little in other places. Eng- j
lifhtnen, he trotted. would always have j
fufficient spirit to support their rights, i
and to perform their duties. His)
jiiend, Mr. Clarkfun would read fome i
rcfolutions, which, if they met their j
concurrence would form the found*
tjnn of an ad .ire fs to his majciiy.
t. Resolved , That the Gazette of
ten)her the 2-d, giv* 5g the account
o the victory gained over rht? duke
d'AbrarrtJsy and the French army un
jder his command, by the British army,
[although half their force was not fs
!gaged, ltd us to expea the uncondi
tional f’rrcnder of the French.
2. That, to our tit'er pfionifhmenr
the Gazette of the 15 th’ of September
informed us, that a convention had
’ been concluded, allowing the enemy
>o -Tutrn.to France in Hritilh vclfds,
■ with their artillery, and ammunition,
and baggage. i
j .3. 1 fiat the cenverttion his fruftrat
ir.d our well, grounded expectations,
jand difapp-.uV.tcd the jnil brpes of the
nation.
4. That we agree with his'ntajetly,•
hat it is not confidant with the princi
ples of British ji.t{Vice to pronounce
judgment before invefligaunn.
§. IT)at an humble a idrefs be pre
jfentedto his majetty, re'q’. setting him
to-wke a proper and efficient inquiry j
:nto the caulies that led to the rouven !
lion, anti to bring to punifhmem Wv !
iclinquents (if any) however eiraSted!
•n rank, and (hong in political in-1
•duenec. j
I
Mi . i- inner'y then cm forward and ,
’aid, that hi only re a (on for d;ff n-ing j
f rom the refolut ions which had tbeen j
-cad was, that they did not appear to
him to oxpr.us in adequate terms the
: ndigna?ion which a iuffiv irritated na
'ton felt at t'ne difgr-ri<*e.which this con
vention attached to the British name.
’ ■ ‘ thought if was probable that ?.:i .
ad'dref;, cone ived in more manly i
terms, might produce a d-h-t effeFt, j
ac-d that the inbabi*ar.ts of Wettmin- :
ftcr niight not he treated by n.iniffers I
wiffi Cse tanfe a-IFvtlcd contempt which ‘
the -corporation of ! on don had nut ;
with from them. He had no very |
great r. ip eel f r th'* corpora; ion of j
Lomlon. as he thought, ;ha by former.
!e r v)jity, they had t • prfed them
fclvcs to the contampt which thev
had met from minitters.; but a 1
the fivnetime lie could not think f
vcTvpootlv of the corporation, as to
suppose that the pretent cabinet had
any right to treat them with contempt
Although he did not think ‘highly of
■he corporation, h° though? there wen
fevered per fops in it that mi-ht faiilv
he matched against any of the minitters.
die thought that his friend Mr Own
could talk aa well as Mr. Canning ; ; that
in judgement and political knowledge,
Mr. Waithmm was at lead upon an
equality with lord Hawksburv; that
in fupponing a’l potties and a!) doe
irines, lord Cattlereagh could claim no
superiority over alderman Shaw; lha*
the duke of Portland was nor fnperior
in fuiidity to Mr. deputy Kemble or
alderman Curtis. If there was anv j
quibbling, pettifogging attorney in the;
coporation, he would pair him off a-j
gaintt Mr Perceval; and for talking!
much and thinking little, he conceived
Mr. Dixon was on an equality with I
lord Mulgrave. Things being so ha-!
’ance<!, he did not fee that the cabinet!
Tad anv right to treat even the corpora- !
\tioli cf London with contempt. It an- I
pea red to him, that the objeft of the’
add ref; should not be tr> leave it to
minitters to dirclt their inquiry in the
manner they thought proper, hut that
u should be to pray his majrflv tcF
convene his parliament, in order that!
I the inquiry should be carried on open- i
1 1y and in the face of the nation, and
that it should be difeovered where the
blame really was whether in the minis
ters or the generals. The minitters
were certainly responsible in the firtt
place, as they had the feleftion of the
generals, as well as the appointment of
the armies which the generals were to
command, and the fupplving them with
provi lions and cvetv thing necfffarv
ifor carrying on the campaign with hort
jor. After ex probing regret for the
jabfence of fir Francis Burdett, who
i was prevented attending, from the af
jflitlion of ptivate fricndfhip (the illneTs
}of Mr. Tooke)and congratulating the
meeting in warm terms on the presence
of Mr. Sheridan, he proceeded to am
j nr.advert on the hittory of the present
i ampaign. The Spaniards, he con
jeeived, had conduced their business
Jmoft wifely. They began with getting
jrid of a flub born , fd'y qU king. ( f h.'s
Ia ft expression cauled fitch a goner;- 1
hooting, that the L-eaker was obliged
jto conclude, which he did by reading
‘the following refdlutions.)
i Resolved, Tliai we con filer, as a
'rnong the principal causes which led to
the late convention in Portugal, the
jfyftemthat prevails with regard to mi
litary promotion.
j That the exittcnce and extent, of that
: fptteiri arif'e out of thvc neccfsity im-i
!poled upon minitters, to prefer rank!
Jand influence to merit and experience.’
j That this necelhty proceeds from
jlhe circumstances which urge a tnin
jifter to conciliate parliamentary in
(ttuence, rather than to seek the public
in: ere ft.
That Fife circumttances are the
natural rofult of the pre lent tt-te of
j the -reprefentaaon of the people of
!-parliament
That owing to this flats of ths rc
jpreientation, a'niiniftei is under the
jneceiutv, for the purpose, as it is ter-
Itned, of managing parliament, and
• carrying on the gr-vern'ment, to facri
| ;ice the public intcrett, by comply in,-
!wTh the desires. Tu.d compromilin
with the vices, of the worst deferip
ti nos nan, namely, the borough pro
printers : hence it appears impossible
tha | : -?ny n.i niter can be a"; bon Jt rnah,
and therefore, until a reform in par
■lament takf*s place, no honed man
on -or to become 3 rninitter.
, ‘i'-hat there is nn tecuriiv ag'aintt the
frequent rt petition of trhli arv disgra
ces, nor can the people expvtt or hope
for an est ctu&i and permanent re-
HreTs of tieir grievances, un il their
mprefentatinn in the Commons
■ t-lonfe of parliament be rcflored to
hem.
t
That, wi-hmit a parliamentary re
rorm. th.c people have no means of re
ooverirfo the liberty they have loft, no
chance of retrimngthat which remains.
This amendment or add’tionto the
ori ’inal r< solutions, have been pro
noted previous to their being fcverallv
read. Mr. CLrkfon proceeded to fuh
mit them one by on? to the sense of
the afte mhlv. Three of the resolu
tions h , ving Been put and carried, on
the fourth being pu%
Mr. Sheridan slept Forward. He
mud lie was confident the meeting
, would feel, that he, who agreed with’
: the honorable gentleman on his right
band. Cat the conduct of ministers
must undergo examination in an us
setnldv v ’ wbieh he was a member,!
could nn<- debate the question at $A cat
length in that place. He could not,
however, stn 1 r/’entlv bv without ex-,
pressing b‘s renr. hation of that aspor- 1
si on on the city of London, which his j
majesty’-; ministers had dared to throw
on it. Br fore be commented cn tb.>>
resolution now proposed, however, he I
must notice some of the occurrences!
which had t- ken place rt the present!
meet in". Dishonorable friend at his!
right hand (Mr. Finnertv ) had cxnrcs- 1
sedhis regret at the absence of the!
worthy fepresentativc of the city fSirj
F Burdett. 1 He also regretted his (
absence, but would not. take on him
self to sav, that it proceeded from
some honorable and justifiable motive.
Me co.ikl declare that the honorable
baronet had net uttered one word, or
breached a single principle, during
the Inst session of parliament, which
he (Mr. Sheridan) would not be proud
to stand bv and support, lie felt hiaa
self also called on to notice the compli
ment paid to himself lay his honorable
friend, so much beyond any desert of
his. In stating that he had never said
a word, cr given a vote contrary to the
interests of the people, during the
whole of his political career, his hon
orable friend, he was confident, howe
ver, had done him no more than jus
tice. He was fully conscious of the
attention and indulgence with which j
he was always listened to bv the in->
habitants of Westminster, aid also hvl
toe hcujG of commons, Tn return LT
could only assure them, that th c > r,, ! *'*
was net upon earth which coffid mduce!
uiui 10 desert thepnnei; }fc ),.< p it; 1
itherto ... ; t: . . -...... •
csts of the ; ! lbs honorlthb
friend had said that it was co-'w ■■■*-- 1
with thff true pimciplcs of the c dgt
tution, to adopt the string of r?s. rj
tions respecting parliamentary rcfr.A’
which he had moved. He [’Mr. gp *
rielanj said so bio; and let his 3aono r *
able friend, or oilier person else”
move for parliamentary reform, ar( j
lie should be the first to support";. 1
Bin when his honora’ le friend ;
! till parliamentary reform v. :s obtaim ‘<
| there could he no hones* minister and
that till then no honest man should
accept of being minister, he [Mr. gh,',
riuasid must dissent from him. |t;J
lionorabie friend knew what a mini w
ter was, and as such he must know
that parliamentary reform con’d
never be carried but by the influence
of an hone It minister. He asked t!->
honorable gentleman to look at the
great and glorious question, which had
been carried through a paHiame ;c
which, however corrupt it miclit hav<-
been in other respects, had procured
immortal honor to itself from pA
single circumstance—he. meant the ah.
oiition of the slave trade. That que
‘ion had for ten years before found an
advocate in Mr. Pitt, backed bv ; |l
die saints and hypccrits in the house
of commons. It was not his intention
though he had never been friendly to
Mr. Pitt’s measures, to say any ill of
him, now that he was no more. All
he should say was, that it v;as not till
hat hottest minister, Mr. Fox, came
into office, that this glorious measure
was carried through. The feurth re
solution could not have his approba
tion. it was desirous that an a sub
ject of this kind the meeting should he
unanimous. They were not here for
the purpose of censuring the conven
tion, but of asserting their own right to
address his nvijes'y, and desiring iu
vestigatlon. \\ hat the city of London
had clone was nothing but what they
had a right to do. He so far agreed
wuh his hdnor ibid that the r?.
solution did not go far enough, and
that it was necessary to get to the mot
of the evil. The mutiny act might be
necessary and proper, but he could
never agree, that to a commis: icn con
stituted by his majesty, under the pro
visions of that act, the honor of the
country should be'committed. The
only adequate inquiry into so import
taut a su'd “ct, was a parliamentary cr.c.
The city of London'had complained,
and the answer they received was that
there was no need cf their inference. 1
1 be address of ike city was entitled to
respect and honor from the unanimity
vath wlvic.h it had been passed, Mr.
alderman Birch h*d done honor to him
self from the support he had Given it.
Alderman Curtis even did not oppose;
so there was no pretence for calling i:
pat ty business. The answer given to
it, he conceived, was ar insult c:i;ke
city, and of course on the country a:
large. (Ihre Mr. Sheridan seivnd
greatly exhausted and tinivell. The
meeting evinced its regard for him, h
request: from every warier that ,‘u
would take time , and not fatigue him
fef.J He concluded, however, br
stating, that when the question carr.r
to that place whore he should be c lied
on to express his opinion on it, he hep*
eel he should do ins duty to the cam
try, and evince his gratitude for the
honor he had always experienced teem
the electors of Westminster. T- 3
resolution was then withdrawn.
On tic moving of the next resow*
u O
lion, Mr. Powers said, be hopeoye
should here have no court of enquiq'*
at the horse guards—no Chelsea coiu"-
martiiil. V/e were called o!)j in jus
tice to our own character, and to our
allies, the Spaniards and Portuguese
to have the business earned to the
most possible length. The rer-w-.q’
proposed was inadequate. I--
fore proposed, aa-rcey I ;',. to the sF'-
I gestiou of that the
j‘.duress do contain a L
, -4*L-S4y, tout he be vcaciocsl)
jto order Lig parliament forth; .c -” 0
I called together, to tale into cons.cic;
tion tne. means of r " : rrv*’ c och -■<
.quiryjnfq effect. * ‘ * “