trary power, to excite violence and riot, and to goad the people into resistance and commotion, may, by the steady, firm, and wise conduct of our Countrymen, be foiled. 5. That this Ward Meeting trembles for the consequences probable upon this Conflict between the People and the Privileges of the House of Commons; and they aver it to be their opinion, that this unnatural struggle is a certain evidence of the little influence the People possess in that Honourable House. That they believe the Representation of the People in Parliament is unequal, deficient, and now manifestly inadequate to the security of the subject; that it appears uncontradicted upon their Journals, that seats in the Honourable the House of Commons are notoriously sold and bartered; that a Majority in that Honourable House may be at all times, with perfect facility, procured and purchased, by any set of Ministers; with the ready means of Places, Pensions, Sinecures, Patronage, and Jobs; as only 154 powerful individuals, Peers and others, return 307 Members, for England and Wales; and the Representation of Scotland and Ireland is equally corrupt: that by means of the Majorities thus obtained, Public Defaulters have not only been exculpated, but suffered to enjoy the fruits of their nefarious conduct, and retain their seats in that Honourable House. 6. That this Ward Meeting declares its entire approbation of the Conduct, Resolutions, and Petition of the Livery of London, in their last Common Hall; that this Meeting avails itself of this first opportunity, to express its abhorrence of the seditious attempts of a band of Contractors and venal Jobbers, to decry all Public Spirit; and to induce the timid and the weak to join in libellous Declarations against their Fellow-citizens, and the venerable Magistracy of our City. 7. That for these accumulated evils and calamities, one only remedy offers itself; namely, a full, fair, and free Representation of the People in Parliament. 8. That this Ward Meeting do hereby instruct their Representatives in Common Council to promote and support in that Court all legal measures whatever that may be proposed to procure the liberation of Sir Francis Burdett and John Gale Jones; and for that necessary and indispensible object, a Radical Reform in the Commons House of Parliament. 9. That the Thanks of this Meeting are due to Sir Francis Burdett, for his manly and constitutional resistance to Oppression, and for his learned and legal Argument in favour of the unalienable Rights of the People. 10. That the late conduct of Sir Charles Price has proved him unworthy of the confidence of the Inhabitants of this Ward; that it has stamped his character with meanness and duplicity, or with the grossest ignorance of his duty and of the laws and customs of this City; with meanness and duplicity for having attempted, by a frivolous and contemptible subterfuge, to shift from his own shoulders the disgrace and responsibility of refusing the Meeting, and attempting to attach the odium upon our worthy and much esteemed Chief Magistrate; or of the grossest ignorance in making application to the Lord Mayor for authority with which every Alderman is notoriously invested. 11. That the Thanks of this Ward Meeting are particularly due to the Churchwardens of this Parish, St. Bride's, for their kindness in acceding, at so short a notice, to the request of the Inhabitants to hold the Meeting in this Church, as well as to the Churchwardens of other Parishes, who have declared their readi ness to comply with a similar requisition. RICHARD BREWER. 12. That the Thanks of this Ward Meeting are also due to Richard Brewer, Esq. Deputy of this Ward, for his manly, candid, and polite conduct this day in the Chair, as well as for his uniform support of the Rights of the People during the long series of years he has represented this Ward in Common Council. SAMUEL THOMPSON. CASTLE BAYNARD WARD. At an Adjourned MEETING of the ALDERMEN, DEPUTY COMMON COUNCILMEN, and FREEMEN HOUSEHOLDERS, of the above Ward, holden at the Church of the United Parishes of St. Mary Magdalen and St. Gregory, in Old Fish-street, on Tuesday, the 22d of May, 1810, pursuant to a requisition made for that purpose, JOSHUA JONATHAN SMITH, Esq. Alder-, man, in the Chair; The following Resolutions were scparately moved, seconded, and carried, viz : Resolved, That warmly attached to the genuine principles of our Constitution, as established at the glorious Revolution by King, Lords, and Commons, we have seen with deep concern those corruptions, | abuses, and peculations which have so long and so shamefully been suffered to exist, the want of due and efficient inquiry into the calamitous failures and misfortunes which have attended our various military expeditions; also the corrupt traffick for seats in the House of Commons, and the power lately assumed of imprisoning our fellow subjects without due process of law. Resolved unanimously, That it is become the imperious duty of every true friend to the real and genuine principles of the Constitution of the country, to use every constitutional meaus to obtain redress of those great national grievances, and a Reform in the Representation of the People in Parliament, by which means the House of Commons may be restored to its true dignity and independence. Resolved, That this Meeting do hereby instruct their Representatives in Common Council, to promote and support all such motions or petitions in the Common Council, as may have for their object the redress of their public grievances and a Reform in the Commons House of Parliament. Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to Joshua Jonathan Smith, Esq. Alderman of this Ward, for his readiness in convening this Meeting, and for his upright conduct as a magistrate on all occasions. Resolved, That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to Messrs. James Griffitlis, Robert Slade, Richard Howell, Thomas Farrance, John Treacher, Joseph Hurcombe, Perrot Fenton, and James Edward Pownall, for their independent and able conduct as representatives of this Ward in Common Council, and the attention they have at all times shewn to the interest and the instructions of their Constituents. Resolved unanimously, That the foregoing Resolutions be signed by the Ward Clerk, and inserted in three morning and three evening papers, namely, the Times, Morning Chronicle, Morning Advertiser, Courier, Alfred, and Statesman. GEORGE ARROWSMITH, Ward Clerk. PORTSOKEN WARD. At a MEETING of the FREEMEN HOUSEHOLDERS of this Ward, held May 15, 1810, at the Crown and Magpye Tavern, Aldgate, to instruct their Common Councilmen to support a Petition from that Court to the Commons House of Parliament, for the release of Mr. Gale Jones, sir Francis Burdett, bart. and a Radical Reform in the House of Commons:-(Sir James Shaw having refused to comply with a Requisition for the same), THOMAS PARKER, Esq. in the Chair. Resolved, That the Inhabitants of this Ward are firmly attached to the Constitution of this Realm as by law established, which Constitution provides," That no man of what state or condition he be, shall be put out of land or tenement, nor taken, nor imprisoned, nor disinherited, nor put to death, without being brought to answer by due process of law."-That this Meeting are impressed with the deepest sense of alarm at the Proceedings of the House of Commons, in departing from the Great Charter of the land, by the assumed Privilege of their House, in committing to prison Mr. Gale Jones (untried by his Peers) for a supposed Libel. In breaking into and forcing from his house by the aid of a standing army, sir Francis Burdett, bart. M. P. and confining him in the Tower, for alledged libels on themselves, and thereby becoming at once Legislature, Jurors, Accuser, Judge, and Executioner in their own Cause, without any appeal to law, and thereby attempting to change the law of England, which cannot be changed.-That this Meeting are fully persuaded, that from the useless waste of blood, and expenditure of our treasure in a ruinous war, without any specific object; and the alarming height of corruption to which the House of Commons have arrived by the prostitution of our liberty, leaves us without hope that any good can be expected but by a full complete, and Radical Reform in Parlia ment. That the Common Council of this Ward are hereby instructed to support every motion brought forward in their Court, which has for its object the libera tion of Mr. Gale Jones and sir Francis Burdett, bart. and that most necessary measure, a Reform in the Commons House of Parliament.-That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to sir Francis Burdett, bart. for his upright and constitational conduct in Parliament on all occasions, but more especially for the manly struggle he is now maintaining against assumed and undefined Privileges -That a Deputation of eight Gentlemen, with four of our Common Council, do wait upon sir Francis Burdett, to present this Reso- | lution. That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to four of our Representatives in the Common Council, Deputy Atkinson, Edward Colebatch, John Hoppe, and Robert Carter, Esqrs. for their upright conduct in the Common Council, and for their polite attendance at this Meeting. That these Resolutions be inserted in the Times, Morning Chronicle, and Morning Advertiser. THOMAS PARKER, Chairman. That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to the Chairman, for his upright conduct in the Chair. LIVERPOOL MEETING. Liverpool, May 9, 1810. Several Gentlemen having signed a Requisition to the Mayor of this Town, requesting him to call a Public Meeting on the present state of the Nation, and the liberty of the Subject, with which he has refused to comply; the Remonstrance subjoined has since been addressed to him, signed by the major part of the Gentlemen signing the Requisition. graces which have befallen this Country during the last three years, and particularly the fatal and destructive expedition to the Island of Walcheren, we had still from time to time consoled ourselves with the hope that, against the recurrence of such evils, there existed an adequate and constitutional remedy.-For this remedy, we, in common with our fellow-subjects, looked up to our Representatives in Parliament; but we are reluctantly compelled to add, that for this we have hitherto looked in vain. Although repeated instances of the profligacy and misconduct of Ministers, both at home and abroad, have been brought before the House of Commons in the most full and ample manner, no result, concordant to the wishes and expectations of the Country, has been produced; whilst the measures recently adopted by that House in restraint of the liberty of the subject, and the freedom of political opinion, are such as cannot fail to occasion the greatest anxiety and alarm in the public mind. When, however, we advert to the open To JOHN CLARK, Esq. MAYOR. and avowed corruption which exists in Sir;-On an emergency like the pre- the appointment of Members of Parliasent, when the nation is suffering under ment, and observe the great number of the effects of ministerial misconduct, and persons having seats in the House of Comwhen a very general apprehension is entermons, who, at the same time, enjoy places tained, that attempts are making to stifle and pensions under the Crown, we are the voice of the people, by a direct attack no longer at a loss to account for the reupon the personal liberty of the subject, sult that has taken place; and we conwe had flattered ourselves, that however ceive that the time is now arrived when it your predecessors in office might have is incumbent on us openly to express our opposed their authority to the earnest decided conviction, that it is only by a wishes of their townsmen, you, Sir, would speedy and effectual Reform in the Rehave been earnest to have shewn how presentation of the People in Parliament, fully you participated with your country-upon principles consistent with the spirit men in their sentiments, and would, in of the constitution, that we can hope to pursuance of our request, have convened preserve the liberties and independence a meeting of the inhabitants, for the pur-of our country from that destruction with poses in our Requisition mentioned. We which they are so imminently threatened. conceived that the examples which had -To this great object it was our wish, been already given by the presiding Ma- under the sanction of our Chief Magisgistrates in the city of Westminster and trate, to have called the attention of our the county of Middlesex, (which have townsmen, and although you, Sir, have since been followed by the City of London deprived them of the opportunity of exand other places,) would have been a pressing their opinion, under such sancsanction, if any had been wanting, to our tion, we doubt not that they will perceive request, and would have deterred you in the motive which dictated such refusal, from attempting, by your single negative, the grounds of their own triumph, and to prevent the inhabitants of this great will still continue to cherish those sentiand populous town from publicly express-ments of veneration for the Constitution ing their sentiments on this occasion; and we cannot omit to testify our most decided disapprobation of your refusal to comply with our just and reasonable wishes in this respect.-Notwithstanding the continued series of calamities and dis of these Realms as by Law established, and that determination to maintain their rights and liberties unimpaired, which are the only effectual safeguard against their overthrow. We are, Sir, &c. THOMAS RAWSON, &c. &c. At a Meeting of the BURGESSES and INHABITANTS of the County Borough of CarMARTHEN, Convened at the Guildhall, on Monday, the 23d of April, 1810. In conformity to a Requisition for that purpose.-J. JONES, Esq. Mayor, in the Chair. It was Unanimously Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Meeting, that Civil Liberty, the basis of our admirable Constitution, is the birth-right of every Englishman; and that no longer than the free enjoyment of personal security, personal liberty, and private property, remains inviolate, can we he free. That every man owes obedience to the laws: laws definite and distinct, not left to the caprice of power, but governed by that sacred and solemn palladium of liberty-Magna Charta, which expressly and explicitly declares, "That no free man shall be taken or imprisoned but by the lawful judgment of his equals, or by the law of the land." that House of arresting and imprisoning do we deprecate the measures adopted by one of its Members for such an alleged offence, and thereby depriving part of the community of its Representative in Parliament. That the means resorted to by the servants of the said House, in order to carry into execution the resolutions entered into on these subjects, appear to us highly unconstitutional, insomuch as the dwellinghouse of a fellow-subject has been violated under pretence of enforcing a warrant to which the King was not a party; a violation in direct opposition to the well-known maxim, "That an Englishman's house is his castle." That every independent Member of Parliament, who in the honest and conscientious discharge of his duty delivers his sentiments openly and without dread to his Constituents, deserves the respect and approbation of every honourable man. Resolved, That convinced of Sir Francis Burdett's That we have observed with alarm and honourable motives and conduct, we cansorrow the late acts of the House of Com- not but join in the sympathy of every mons, which has assumed to itself unde-truc-hearted Briton; and whilst we lafined privileges, and constituted itself the accuser and judge of supposed breaches of the same, thereby claiming a power which cannot be legally assumed by the highest branch of our Constitution, and which violates the freedom of the subject, his right to a trial by his Peers and the liberty of the Press. Whilst we fully acknowledge the competency and right of the House of Commons to remove all obstructions to its debates, to punish prevarication and contempts, and to adopt and exercise power which necessity may require in unusal and unforeseen cases; we nevertheless do declare, that it cannot legally constitute itself a judge of law or fact in any case wherein the ordinary tribunals of the kingdom are competent to decide. That a Judge and Jury are the only competent and proper Tribunal to try and ascertain whether any publication be libellous or not, and to punish the convicted author of such libellous publication: and whilst we protest in the strongest terms against the functions of a Judge and Jury being exercised by the House of Commons on such an occasion, still more ment the loss which the country sustains by his detention at this momentous crisis from Parliament, earnestly hope that the House of Commons will, in conformity with the sense and wishes of the people, quickly restore to the Country a zealous and inflexible friend. That we beg leave to return to Sir Francis Burdett our unqualified thanks for his manly and constitutional conduct on all occasions, and to express a strong hope, amounting even to confidence, that the integrity of a British Judge, and the impartiality of a British Jury, will secure to him his Rights, and with them the Rights of Britons. JOHN JONES, Chairman. Resolved Unanimously, That the Thanks of this Meeting-be given to the Chairman for his impartial conduct in the Chair. That the Chairman be requested to inform Sir Francis of the result of this Meeting. That these Resolutions be printed in the Carmarthen Journal, the Cambrian, the Star, Courier, and Morning Chronicle, London Papers, and one of the Bristol Papers. Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden :-Sold a'so by J. BUDD), Pall-Mali, LONDON:-Printed by T. C. Hansard, Peterborough-Court, Fleet-Street. VOL. XVII. No. 22.] LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1810. [Price is. "That there should be found gentlemen, who would annihilate the people, and acknowledge no other "voice than that of this House, is to me not at all surprising; because the conduct of the most violent "sticklers for this doctrine, has not deserved much applause or favour from them. Buthat they "should have renounced reason and common sense, so far as to maintain that the majority of this "assembly is the only organ by which their sentiments can be expressed, is to me truly surprising. "For where, in the name of wonder, should the House acquire the necessary knowledge or intelligence? Is it by turning over these musty volumes or by rummaging these gaudy boxes which lie on your "table? No; they contain none of these mysteries. How then are they to be explored? Is there any virtue or inspiration in these benches or cushions, by which they are communicated? or does the "echo of these walls whisper the secret in your ears? No; but the echo of every other wall, the murmur of every stream, the shouts, aye, and the hoots and hisses, of every street in the nation, ring "it in, your ears, and deafen you with their din. Deafen you, did I say? Alas! you were deaf before, "or rather dead; else you would have heard; for their voice is loud enough to waken almost the dead. "For shame, gentlemen, let us hear no more such weak reasonings and sophistical refinements. Far "from producing conviction, they cannot even extort a smile, except peradventure at the author, who "resembles a hunter, that would catch an elephant in toils made of cobweb. The people have a voice "of their own, and it must, nay it will be, sooner or later, heard; and I, as in duty bound, will always exert every nerve, and every power, of which I am master, to hasten the completion of the desirable " event."MR. BURKE. Speech in the House of Commons, 6th Dec. 1769. 633] SUMMARY OF POLITICS. ABHORRERS OF WESTMINSTER. There has been published in the newspapers, A DECLARATION on the part of persons calling themselves "housekeepers "and other inhabitants, within the city and "liberties of Westminster;" and, though no signatures have, as yet, been put to this Declaration, its contents are of a nature to call for particular notice. -[834 urged by every Robber, private as well as public. We complain, for instance, that Mr. Hunt, one of the favourites of the great Statesman now-no-more," has gone off to Portugal.-Stop here, a moment.-How came he to go to Portugal? To Portugal where our armies are? To Portugal, a country, in fact, in our possession? How came Mr. Hunt to go tạ Portugal? It was odd enough, that he, who fled from the consequences of his This set of Abhorrers begin by deploring conduct towards the public in England, "the late alarming riots," though not a should seek shelter amidst the camps and garhundredth part so much mischief was done risons of the English army! I beg my in them as was done by the Church-and-readers to ponder this well in their minds; King mob at Birmingham, or at Liverpool. Far, however, be it from me to palliate any mobbish violences; and, I think, that the worst enemies that the cause of Reform has, are those who, under pretence of avenging the injuries of the people, commit breaches of the peace. It is for law; for the due exercise of law; for a government of law; this is what we are contending for; and we detest unlawful violence, by whomsoever it may be committed. and, odd as the thing may appear, at first sight, I am deceived if they will not soon discover a probable reason for Mr. Hunt's selection. This is a curious affair, and to be well noted by the people.To return from this digression: we complain, for instance, that Mr. Hunt is gone off to Portugal so many thousands of pounds in our debt, and that those whom the law commanded to take sureties for Mr. Hunt, had neglected to take those sureties; so The Abhorrers above-mentioned use a that there was no redress left us; and great deal of cant, mixed with no small share that, when a motion was made in the of invective; but the passage, which I am Honourable House to censure (not punish, desirous to point out to the particular at- but merely censure) this neglect, that tention of the reader, relates to the happi-motion was negatived by a large majority ness, which we enjoy in this country, com- of the Honourable House. When we pared with the state of people in other coun- complain of this, or of any other thing of tries, and especially in France.This is the same sort, we are told, that we are a mode of reasoning I never will approve much better off than the French; that there of; because it is an answer to every thing; is a military despotism in France; and the an answer to every charge, and may be like. When we complain of Lord Castle |