Star. — London, England, 1809-05-24 00:00:00

. 4NYITERS4RT OF THE IVESTMINSTER ELECTION. YesterdsT a very numerous and respectable Meet iota of dux Sectors of Westminster took place at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, to celebrate the Anni versary of Sir FRANCIS BURDETT'S Election. Sir FRANCIS Bunntrr in the Chair. After the cloth was removed, the Worthy Chairman proposed—" The King and the Act of Settlement ;" " The People and the Bill of Rights ;" and " Magna Chart:: ;" ech of which was drank with appropriate demonstrations of respect and regard. Mr. ADAMS then proposed—" The Pride of West. rniester—Sir I;RANCIS BURDETT," which was drank with acclamations of applause. Upon their termina tion, Sir ,FRANCIS rose, and expressed the' pleasure and satisfaction which he felt in the approbation of a meeting so truly respectable. The conduct which the Electors of Westminster had manifested towards him was such as could never be effaced from his me mory—such as called for the most grateful return in his power. He would of course be happy to commu nicate something to them calculated to gratify their v.-istes and encourage their hopes ; but, unfortunately, the duty was imposed upon him which he must per form, by stating to his constituents that there ap pearel no fair prospect of any amelioration of tie: condition of the country from that House which was called, or which,.at least, was in the habit once car calling itself, the representatives of the people.' (eti. glasses). On the contrary, indeed, so extraordinary were the circumstances of the times in which we lived, that, although frequently' meeting his constituents he had always something new, and before unthought ot, to mention to them. Although but a short period had elapsed since tile last meeting, events had occur red which at other periods would have excited uni versal astonishment. We were now arrived at a most important mra in our history. For the first time since England received its name, or became known in his • tory, we had heard in what was called the House of Commons, corruption unblushingly avowed, and Members of that Home detected in their iniquity, most unblushingly defended. (afm/au.rer.) The ex . ample of the Electors of Westminster, although in it self so eminently entitled to praise, be had always thought unlikely to operate any material effect upon the English nation. Indeed, the thing was impossi ble for this plain reason, that the people in general were not in 'such a condition as to be able to follow such an example. The great body of the people not having any right of electioa, it would be as absurd to speak to men shackled in the dungeons of Newgate, about the benefits of free air and exercise, as to talk to the other pal s of England about the example of the Electors of Westminster. (Applauses.) While the bulk of our countrymen did not enjoy that privilege which the Electors bf Westminster exercised, the ex ample of the Electors must be with regard to them quite null and ineffectual. (Applauses.) When he was originally applied to, to become a candidate for Westminster, he fairly and frankly told them, who did him the honour of the application, that which must now be obvious to every sober thinking man in the country, namely, that while the system of Repre sentation continued as it was, it was impossible to do any material good for the people by having a seat in that House—that individual delinquents might be ex posed, but that the prolific source of delinquency, and its main support, must continue. (11fyilauses.) At the same time he felt it due to truth, to justice, to acknowledge the services rendered to the public by , his Honourable Friend near him. [This allusion to Mr: NVARDLE, who sat on the right hand of the Honourable Baronet, produced a burst of ap plause.] Were his Honourable Friend not present he would say ry a re as to his exertion and merit. —This much, however, he could not abstain from saving, that as to his Honourable Friend belonged all the risk and danger of the undertaking, so to him was due all the honour that attached to it ( applause: ). —To him was owl:17, the production of facts which could not be dellicd. Denial therefore could not longer avail. The charge of loose assertion and idle calumny upon public men could no longer be made —the challenge for accusation in a tangible shape could not attain be hazarded. No, the expe r i ence o f Mr. Wardle's industry arid boldness had proved the futility of such charges, and the hardihood of such challenges. But the fact was, that his Honourable Friend was only granted a hearing at the outset—was only permitted to proceed in his charges because it was calculated, very contider:ly calculated, that by chicanery, by menaces, and by majorities, he would be borne down. Indeed, he was threatened with dis grace, which ultimately fell where it deserved —but still the calculation to which his success was owing arose out of the idea that he must fail, and that his failure would be so signal as to deter any other man, • in future, from bringing a similar charge against ;:ny great public delinquent (.afyiplauscs). His Honour able Friend, however, completely disappointed the calculation of his opponents, and gratified the justice of the people. For neither menaces, nor corruption, nor numbers, could withdraw him from his purpose, or relax his endeavours, 1 By nunteer nor bv trample wrought To take the straight plain pat%, • Though singe. This his lion. Friead acted, and thus he succeeded in convincing the country that he dealt not in calumny, but in truth, and that enormous corruptions had long existed is different departments of the Government. Honottrabl,t Friend having done this, another licarcurable Friend on his left (Mr. Madocks) brought forward a case which he offered to prove, that the vital organ of the Constitution was polluted—that seats in the Howie of Commons were bought and sold by the Minister. But this case was rejected; the whole House were qh:te unanimous against hearing or eh 'tering into the investigation ef it, and because the .thing complained of was practised by both sides of the House, both sides united in resisting inquiry.— (Appiausc.r.) . I .Vhen ever suc h a practice was before rillectled to exist, the allegation was with all possible hypreciisy tkoied, aqd the men win) made it 'Were ;:ccen,ed of using gener-al aspersion, and challenged to bring torward specific proof. Yet when this proof was 1.-ou.2itd it was refused to be heard, both sides of the shook hand.; and combived against it, because truly ;1! Ministers did the same thing. *.l'hus the ex. t! tit rr the crime, wltich accor,Eng to all just',rind ple ,h ould be the Call3o of puni.,hinent, was made use t.l a , 4 flea fur the criminal to escape. (Applaura.) The` 12th of May was a day that ought to bs ever ' memorable in the minds of the country, for on that day that question was plainly at issue between the Bo rough-mongers and the• People. (Apyaguer.) The Bo rough-mongers had no doubt, had a sort of triumph— they had escaped; and, therefore, so insolent had they become that it was stated in one of the Newspapers, that if the people should petition the King in favour of Parliamentary Reform, and that his Majesty should interpose to promote the objet of such petitions, it was hoped the House of Commons would repel such interposition as .unconstitutional.—What ! that the King and the People combining for their common interest in favour of Reform, should be considered as a breach of the Constitution, and that the attempt of such a combination to reform that House, which ought to consist of the Representatives of the people, should be repelled as an insult (applause:). It was now evident that all which had been urged from time to time against the system of our Representation was correct—that the assertion contained in the cele brated Petition of that able and honest man, Home Tooke, in the year 1789, was perfectly well founded. For that assertion, namely, that seats in the House of Commons were bought and sold like the stalls in Smithfield, was now openly avowed. Yet how many victims had been made to the supposed purity of the House of Commons ? How many persons had been prosecuted and punished for alledged libels, in publishing that which no one now had the hardihood. to deny. Yet after much sacrifices, after the com plete ruin of a poor man some time ago, he meant Hamlyn the tinman, for attempting to tempt the purity of a Minister by the offer of a bribe for some party plan, the practice of bribery by all Ministers for places of such importance as seats in the Legis lature was acknowledged and defended. In alluding to the case .of Hamlyn, the Honourable Baronet took occasion to observe, that if thera were any ele- - vation of mind, or liberality of sentiment whatever among those who instituted that prosecution, it was impossible that any such prosecution could have been commenced against thAt poor ignorant man.—(Ap plause .) Recurring to the purchase of seats in the House of Commons, the Honourable Baronet ob served, that of all the various treasons, of which he had heard, of none could he conceive any worse than the treasonous attacks which was so notoriously made upon the constitution of the Legislative Bodies, but ; particularly upon the House of Commons Such at tacks were not a mere ordinary species of iniquity, but aimed a mortal blow at the vcry vital principle of that body to which the people should peculiarly look for redress—from which they were entitled to expect relief from burthens and security against op pression—which in fact from its nature and essence ought to protect innocence, and ensure justice— (2ll:filauses:) Having mentioned Parliamentary Reform so often, he thought it necessary to make a few particular ob servations upon that subject. It appeared to be the favourite object of some persons to surround the mea sure of Reform with difficulty, to make it look ra ther mysteriou•s and less practicable, than• if fairly represented it must appear. The friends of reform who took it up at different terms, perhaps for some purpose of temporary expediency, for the exercise of eloquence, or the acquisition of popularity, had so decked and bedizened the subject—had so covered it with ornaments—had rendered it so cumbrous—had so embarrassed the question—had so overlaid it with drapery and dress, that it was no wonder it seemed so difficult to be understood and acted upon. Thos Parliamentary Reform was, through the false eloquence of those who were probably more anxious to display themselves, than the measure, rendered scarcely intelligible, owing to the extraneous matter with which it was surrounded (applause). But in addition to the mischief resulting from the conduct of those who professed to support Reform, there was On the other hand the difficulty created by the oppo nents of the measure. They represented it quite as a thing of imagination, nit reducible to practice —as an Utopian system, fit for angels only, but not applicable to men. Thus the professed friends and foes of the measure contrived to involve it in a sort of intricacy and difficulty which did not - it all be long to it. In fact it was a quite simple question —to be illustrated by the rule which governed man kind in all their dealings. According to the unani mous opinion of :di political writers of any reputation, this was an indisputable principle, that the legislative, executive, and judicial parts ofthe Constitution should be distinct and separate. Why this was just the prin ciple that p. - evailed in all bargains to which there must be two parties. The whole science of Govern ment was in fact simply the rule which was intelligi ble to the very children at school—namely, the rule that the same person should nrt choose and divide. That was all we required in. Government, that the choosers should not be the dividers. (Amhzuse.) Il lustrating by a still more simple allusion, lie would refer to the case of the dinner they had just partaken of. The landlord furnished it, but as they were to pay the bill, it was surely their right to appoint per sons to examine the reckoning'. Stripping Parliamen tary Reform of 211 the incumbrances heaped upon it by bad taste and false eloquence ( whom still he should he glad to find prove themselves sincere for the object), it was the same in principle as they claimed with re spect to th.! dinner and the reckoning. (Applause.) He was often astonished to hear it said in the House of Commons, and without laughter too, by•certain persons who were candidates fOr public offices as well as by those who enjoyed them, that their only object is to serve the public, and that money is no part of their consideration. To hear such a statement gravely made was really ludicrous, and could only be compared to the declaration of a man who, after he had fed heartily upon roast beef, should say that he preferred pudding. What ! that these men, with their pockets swelling with the money of the public, should come forward proclaim that they care not about the pub lic money, and look only to serve the public. (if/i -t/awes and laughter.) Among these Gentleman was Mr. Tierney, who was once deemed a Jacobin and a zealous Reformer, but now it seems he does not think the time proper' for proposing the measure. Indeed this Gentleman professed to be quite shocked at the conduct of those who were so forward to expose " the shameful parts of the Constitution." But. yet there was a day when no man was more forward to expose those parts than the Honourable Gentleman himself. Indeed, suc h was hi s rage f or suc h e xpo sure , that he would not leave a rag to cover these parts. While those whom the Right Hon. Gentleman con- - -7 • &Med sought sorely to tali aside "the robe of ; 'parity," that Right Hoe. Gentleman • would exhibit -" the filthy dowlas." (Applause: and laughter.) But the Right Honourable Gentleman, perhaps, from becoming familiar to the view of these shameful parts Fof the Constitution, they had ceased to excite horror in his eyes. (Applause.) The Right Honour able Gentleman was so hostile when speaking about Reform. to use the exclamation of—" Thank God," with a view no doubt to induce an idea of his sieterity, put him in mind of Falstaff's observation to Mrs. Quickly, about " the thing to thank GOD on." For what the Right Honourable Gentleman meant by his " thank Goo," he could not precisely understand, any more than he could the Right Hon. Gentleman's allusion to party. For himself, he could say, that he never belonged to any other. party than the public.— He had no connection with those parties who com bined for private interests upon professed public grounds—who led men into scrapes and disgraces, ' add then left them. He would not imitate the exam ple, or connect himself with the pursuit of such per sons. He wouldnot "say that he had never belonged to any party, if he had attached himself to and de- I serted every party as it suited his private interest.— He has never, in any instance, had applied to him the allusion contained in the advice given by Dogberry to the Constable. No, never having had the misfor tune of such a degrading allusion made to him by any party, he should not enter into any competition 'with the character, or be disturbed by the censure of those who had. (Applauses.) Reverting to the measure of reform, the Honour able Baronet exhorted the Meeting to persevere with prudence and firmness in pursuit of that important measure, which there was now so much reason to calculate upon obtaining. It seemed intolerable to think that Ministers, that both parties should be heard to avow the corrupt disposal of seats in that House, which ought to consist of the real representation of the people ; and that after such avowal, a declara tion should be made, almost una voce, that such Corrupt transactions should not be inquired into ; that in fact public delinquency should in future be sheltered from exposure and punishment. Was it to be borne in this land, so long the envy of the world, that, after having so often conquered otlkrs, it should submit to such a shameful conquest of itself ; that the nation which gave birth to Russel, to Sydney, and to so many other heroes, should become so dege nerate and so degraded, that it could submit to a description offered in defence of the corruption of Ministers, that the whole country was corrupt from bottom to top—but that the top was the purer ? No doubt the top was pure, but it was in corruption. He, however, hoped and trusted the people would not allow the stigma of the odious description to attach to their character, but that they would struggle to recover their rights, to redeem their reputation and consequf'ace, and to. re-estab lish the ancient Constitution of their country (Loud applauses). - The Hon. Baronet concluded with proposing— " The Independent Electors of Westminster." The next toast that was given was, " Lord Coch rane," which was drank with great applause. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT then gave " Mr. Wardle, and the 125 Members who supported him on his mo tion."—This toast was drank with .an extraordinary degree of enthusiasm. Mr. WanotE, in returning thanks, declared that he had never received an invit..tion which had given him more pleasure. He felt a particular satisEction in paying every possible respect to the purest body of electors.—(aNdaure.)—He thought that the elec tors of Westminster had done themselves almost as much honour in the object they selected for their I choice as in their manner of doing it.—(ANdause.)— After the very able speech they had just heard, he felt that it would be unbecoming of him to say much. The country certainly now stood in a new situation, when the practice of corruption was openly avowed in Parliament. This was a fict which he hoped' would soon be kno am in every cottage throughout the kingdom.. In this avowal of' corruption, the two great factions, " The Talents," and the" No Popery"- men, both agreed.—(Loud applause). It Was really astonishing that some of the members of the faction of " The Talents," expressed a wish, .when they were in power, that they might live in a house of glass, that all their actions m;ght be distinctly seen ; and yet now these Gentlemen who challenged the whole country to witness all their actions, avowed andins tified corruption. h was, indeed, a curious treat to which they invited the people of England, to look into their house of glass, and see all their tricks and decep-1 tions, all their contrivances for returning Members, friendly to their cause. He firmly believed that the first-fruits of Parliamentary Reform would be that the burthens of the people would be most sensibly' alleviated. If Parliament were really the Repro -1 sentatives of the People, there would be no danger of the people becoming their own executioners. He had really studied the subject of finance, and was convinced in his mind, that if there was a House of Commons really representing the people, the in come Tax might be taken off the first year pause). if, in any hour friendly to the people, he were called upon to say how thin could be clone, he would readily accept the challenge. He should alsO mention, that new penal laws had been instituted to protect private merchants from breaches of trust in their servants. He should ask, was it not extraordi nary, that the officers of Government, or rather of the nationstshould not be protected against breaches of trust, as well as the office of the private merchant ? If such penal laws were, however, to be enacted, it' would cause the utmost desolation in all the offices of Government. There would be hardly an anti Jacobin left in them (net even Mr. John Bowles,) to revile such' men as that meeting was composed of. It was full time for the people of England to inquire into the causes of the grievous burdens which they bear . , when their annual expenditure had increased from 16 to 70 or 80 millions annually. He did not know how that wasteful system could be done away but by Parlia mentary reform. He hoped the nation at large would feel the necessity of moderation, as well as firmness; for if any want of moderation was to be found either in their actions or their language, their enemies would not fail to take advantage of it.- Loud applause:.) Upon 4'e health of Mr. Madocks being drank, Mr. Manoor,s rose and returned thanks for the honour that was done him. He conceived it the un doubted right of the people to be fairly, justly, and ] uly represented in Parliament. As to Mr. Curwen's bill, he thought the nation ought to be in seri ous alarm respecting it, as one of the most dangerous measures which was ever brought forward in Parlia ment. The effect of this Bill would be to leave no market to the Borough-monger but the Treasury it self. They never could expect a quid pro quo for re. ,turning a Member, except from the Government. Both parties now seemed agreed that the corrupt in fluence of the Treasury was as notorious as the sun at noon day, and therefore it was ridiculous to at tempt to prove it. if this he the case, he could not think that any vestigenf the Constitution was remain. ?ng. As to the rest ..of the boroughs following the maniple of Westminster, it was impossible. At Ha zlemere, for example, some of • the proprietors of te. nements were Peers, who were disqualified from vot ing by their rank ; others were excisemen, who wer e disqualified by their offices; and others were females disqualified by their sex. He did not know in such a borough who were to he the voters called upon t o imitate the example of Westminster. After this, the a Livery of London," the "Cora. mon Council of London," and the Counties and Ci. ties which had expressed their sentiments in favour of Parliamentary Reform, were drank with great ap. Some patriotic and convivial songs were th en Ring, and the company remained to a late hour. COUldllifdfßTlAL ON PEiIIt,ADMIRAL HAIZVEr. SECOND DAY.-PORT6MOUTH, MAY 23. This morning the Court assembled at half past nine o'clock, pursuant to adjournmert, when Rear-Admi. ral Harvey being called.upen to make his defence, he addressed the Court shortly, stating, that it was not his intention to trouble them with calling any wit. nesses in his behalf ; but, with their permissio n , he would deliver into the hands of the Deputy Judge Advocate a paper, which he desired to be read, as it contained all that he deemed expedient to offer to their consideration. The Deputy Judge Aivocate (Mr. GREETRANI), then read as follows : " Mr. President, and Gentlemen, " I thank the Court for adjourning to this . day. The interval of.time has given you an opportunity of perusing the evidente that has been adduced ; and, I trust, of discovering that it falls short of proving the charges that have been.exhibited against me. I should, however, not be acting a fair and candid part were I to deny that a conduct which I cannot justify has been established against me, and I now offer my most hum ble apology to the Court for it. For the offence that I have given to the Commander in Chief, his Lord ship has proved that I have already offered an apology that was satisfactory to his feelings. The Court will not fail to recollect, that although I have spoken of the CoMmander in Clfief in terms which I am ex• tremely sorry for having used, I did not speak with that publicity that is stated in the charge against me. I spoke only to persons of rank and station in the fleet, on whose minds my words could have no in jurious effect ; what I said is not found to have been dissminated among the infeni.)r orders of the navy; no seaman or petty officer has been called who eve: heard any of the language complained of. it will also occur to. you, that all the intemperate expressiers used by me are proved to have been used about the same time, when' I was in a state of great irritation, in consequence of my offer to attack the French fleet be ng passed over without the least acknowledgment f its having been made. Excess of zeal and impatience of' restraint, wher.! an oppo tunity of enterprize prel sents itself, although faults, are _such as the most emi. nent Naval Commanders . have not been free from, and the effects of these are all that can be found blame able in my conduct. It never was my intention to thwart any super:or officer; on the contrary, my whole life has been, and shall continue to be,'entire submis sion to their commands.—To many of the Gentlemen of this Court I have the honour to be known ; to them I appeal for my former character.—l shall also beg leave to desire, that two letters from most distinguished persons, under whom I have had th - honour to serve, may be read. " The manner in which my services have been es timated by them, will, I am sure, have its due effect on the judgment which the Court is called upon to pronounce upon me." Euryalus, October 28,1805. My dear congratulate you must sincerely on the victory his Majesty's fleet has obtained over the enemy, and on the noble and distinguished part the Temeraire took in the battle; nothing could be finer; I have not words in which I can sufficiently ex press my admiration of it. I hope to hear that you are unhurt, and pray send Inc your report of killed and w4unded, with the officers names woo tell in the action, and the state of your olva ship, whether you can get her in a state to meet Gravtua, should he again attempt any thing. I am, dear Sir, with great esteem:, your faithful bumble servant, cottiNnwoon. Captain E. Harvey, Teineraire. Mortirner-street, April 4'2, 1607. Sir—l cannot retire from the Command of the Charxel Fleet, without eipii:ssing the high sense I entertain of the ability, zeal, and perseverance displayed by you in the command of a detached squadron, during an unexanipiLd wag cruize off the North Coast of Spain, and assurin3 you of the esteem and regard with which have the honour to be, Sir, Your mss obediet:t bumble servant, Rear—Admiral Harvey, &c. sr. VINCLNT. The Admiral then withdrew with his Counsel, Mr. Serjeant BEST, and the (2Jurt was cleared of strangers, for the purpose of deliberating on the ,evidence, in Nvhich they were occupied a considerable length of time. At length strangers were re-admitted, when the Rear-Admiral taking his station on the left hand of the Deputy Judge Advocate, that Gentleman PTO' nounced loLlowing S'EM'ENCE. The Court, having heard and deliberated upon z;e evidence which had been adduced in support of the chafges exhibited against Rear-Admiral Eliab Her. vey, and having heard what he had 'alledged in his defence, are of opinion that the charges of vehement and insulting language to the Right Honourable Lord Gambier, and of having otherwise shew nreat disrespect to him as Commander in Chief, on board his Majesty's ship Caledonia ; and of having spoken of his Lordship to several Officers in a disrespectful manner, have been proved, and the Court doth th,re fore adjudge the said Rear-Admiral Eliab klarucy To le dismissed his slinjessis %Service ; and he is dismi.a-I actordirey,-,:fhe Court was then dissolved.