The National Register. — London, England, 1817-02-17 00:00:00

,1•• glationa POLITICAL DISQUISITION. lIINTS TO THOSE WHO FREQUENT PUBLIC MEETINGS. WEIF.IsT, I stated in my lust letter, that the Rulers of the State hal set their shoulders in earnest to the wheel, to promote the great work of Retrenchment and Reform, I only anticipated the munificent sacrifice of the Prince Regent, now announced in Parliament, and that of the large sinecure, enjoyed by the Marquis of Camden, which may be hailed as the harbingers of many more sacrifices, not less disinterested in principle, though less important perhaps in value and in magnitude. These, in conjunction with the self-imposed tax of the Servants of the Crown, shew that Government is in earnest in considering Cie wants, and in wishing to • alleviate the burthens of the people. These are only the commencement of a series of re trenchments which will shortly take place, and which must convince any reasoning mind, that the interests of the lower orders arc identified with those of the higher, and that they must hereafter stand or fall to gether. If the sensible part of the Community are once eon• sinced of this important truth, they will look with sus picion and disgust on those visionary schemes of ideal amendment, which can never be realized. We have seen within these few days the sensations excited in the minds of the best and wisest mcn of the present age, by the bare mention and promulgation of such crude, wild, and extravagant opinions These dis tinguished personages have made within the walls of Parliament a general disclaimer of all participation in such fanciful and fallacious theories. Should not the good sense of the people reflect on this, and pause a little before they blindly adopt the Wad schemes of the modern Reformers ? It' men of ac knowledged talent and ability, living in habitual hos tility to the measures of Governmeut, take the earliest opportunity offered of disavowing all connection with these Reformers, and their System of Universal Suffrage gm! Annual Parliaments, will not the thinking part of the Community be led to suspect, that such schemes of Refbrin are not in fart the panacea they hare been re presented to be for all the disorders of the oosatnon wealth ? If they were likely to prove such, why should they be rejected in lefo by men, whose great political object in their character of opposition, is to destroy and supplant their political adversaries in the adminis tration ? They would not willingly forego any opportu nity that presented itself of giving a mortal blow to their opponents, and yet they eagerly come forward to disavow the new doctrines. The tribe reason of this is, that they conscientiously believe the new doctrines to be pregnant with mischief to the State,—that they consi•.ler them to be synonirnous with anarchy and mis xule,—and that, if carried into effect, they would, tinder the specious mark of popular privileges, distmy the civil rights and liberties of F:nglisinnen ; they stand therefore thus early in the front of the battle. This should operate as a warning to thme who are likely to be misled by popular clamour, without having taken the trouble of judging for themselves, or duly estimat ing and appreciating the merits of the new system re commentletl. There can be no doubt that property, which has hitherto been comidered as the parent of taxation, would be wholly lost and merged in Universal Suf frage ; and there can be as little doubt that Annual Parliaments would open the door to reiterated scenes of riot and disorder, and annually expose the lower orders to a floodgate of bribery and corruption. If this be so, might we not naturally expect to witness shortly the degradation of the most useful order in society ? Should we not soon see the habits of the people demoralized ? And has not tb Poet told us, that " A bold Peasantry, R country:4 pride, " When once destroy'd can never be snnplied." The consequences are too obvious to be dwelt upon ; an idle, drunken, venal popular: would usurp the Otte Our tling, Contititution anb 31a13)6. MONDAY, FE .VARY 17, 1817. of an happy, free and .industrious yeomanry. From such a constitution of things, so inimical to the best interests of the countW, may the wisdom and vigi lance of those in power, and the constitutional op position of those not in +tower, save and deliver us ! We have weathered all the dangers of a long and pro tracted warfare—we have expended our best blood and treasure, and have amassed a debt which presses heavy on us, in fighting the bsttles of our Country—we have now to fight the battlo of the constitution—may we amend and reform—not disfigure or destroy the vene rable edifice, which hat stood the admiration of ages, and which it is our duty to transmit to our posterity, not dilapidated, or tarnished, but enriched in value, and strengthened by improvettf nt. Feb. 15, 1817. A NtlalS PATRI.II. IMPERIAL PARLI.IMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. MONDAY, FF3. 10. Their Lordships heard Counsel in tlic appeal cause respect ing the Duke of (Inet.n3buty's estates.—Adjourned. TL't•SDAY. FEB. 11. On the motion of Lord it was ordered that no Petitions for pt irate Bills be received sifter the 3d of March, and no Report of the Judges upon iVriSate Bills be. rectiscd after the 1..11s of ApriL—Ackiourtird. WEI/NFSPAY, Frn. 12. No. 471.—V0r.. X. PRICE 94d. RETRENCHMENT 'AND REFORM. Earl GROIIVISTIOn rose and observed, that it was his inten tion to Ming to fore tho House a motion affecting the best iiitt•rests of the country. He was filly convinced of the firm attachment of the gr. at body of the people to the sovereign on the !Inoue. Petitiors from all parts of the country had been pet seined to pat liontent, ss Lich might he ranged under fonts heads :--lst, The Military Expenditure, Yudly, The Civil List, 3rdlv, Rtteenclimeat and Economy, and lastly, Parliamentary lieform. His Lordship tutu proceeded to re mark on these several impormat topics. But the noble Earl's ohservatious on the tat of them, seem to merit the greatest attention. What follows is the most correct report of this part of his Lordship's speech on this_ head that has hitherto appeared. flu the fourth point, that of Parliamentary Reform, lie woold explicitly state kis opinion—he had always been led to think that the List ;dire proposed to Parliament by that die thignished character, who hod rendered so much service to his country, the late Mr. Pitt, was one that might be adopt ed with great benefit tone country ; and , it' a bill, eontaiii ing a plan of that description shook, rea..--h that House, it would have his support. With regard, however, to Univer sal Suffrage, he wooed not be so tuna til as to call it universal nonsense, but he would call it universal impracticability ; and in regard to Aminal Parliaments, which some thought 1110,1 COP Stittitianal, he hail iiqvcr so read the constitution ; he had ..lways considered, in.taed, the annual holding of Portia mons necessary to the preservation of the Constitution. but not an mutual dissolution and re-election of them. But be cause ke differed with others en thkt subject, was lie there fore (as was well expressed by a Noble Person on a former evening, iii a most eloquent and convincing smelt) to wish to are those with whom tic differed, imprisoned and glkb .t -ed, hung, drawn and qnarered? Was It. to wish to see a Judge Jefferies, or one acting. in the spirit and power of a Judge Jefferies, pieced on the Bench, for the purpose or committing u legal murder on these people ? For instance, should lie wish to see Major Cal twrigbt, whom he understood to be a most respectable person, because he entertained such contrary sentiments, and endeavoured to propagate them through the nountry, should he wish to see his mouth closed, not by argument anti to r discussion, but by the bloody hands ofiteexecutiouer ?—The thought was shocking, monstrous sad diabolical. lit regard to triennial Parlia ments, however. lie must fairly ON u, that since he turned his thonghts of late more particularly to the subject, front the anxiety pervading all ranks of people on those topics, he has satisfied himself discy were more constitutional than septet,- nial ones; and, indeed, he must in truth say, that lie consi dered the septennial act a direct infringetnent on the con stitution, and a violation of the rights anti liberties of the people. Weed he thought ifjustiliable at all, it emild only be so f the danger of the time- ; the danger of ii dis puted trees-ion; and that .1. the danger ;hissed away, it of necessity fell to the gruuml. Ihe act repealed itself. and ought not to :Munn in the statute book. There Cure he would not shriek from declaring that it mielit pas l,ly Cull to his lot to introduce a snot ion ill this sulk grit, Illott; 1 1 it was more likely lie would be aotiripateil by the introaluction of it late the other House at Pailiaaient, to %melt these soli. s leets more partilliblrly belong. As the tortitud., of the pct,. pit' had berotreat iiiiiier their difficulties :rod privations, and sufferings, so had their co n duct In iii places, where meet. hies far reu enidinient and reform hall been ucen most exemplary; and, Indet•ul, it was rental kable awl even surpris ing that it should have liven so consiilcring the great numbers that hove been :IRSC411)1.11 in various plarem, mid toe warmth k hat naturally arisra in large loodies when sus , eouhlett from sal-ions quart. rs to discuss twitters, where gI it -ire felt, this was at least no symptom of ilimaffection, :and br trusted front arch, patient discussion mock good would arise. The great athitty tie telt fur the genui ne eliaracteristic city amt . est-enrolee of the British Csostitnilon made him earnest in rresaing these putiotta no their I.ordships' notice ; an d he siersrely hop e d that th e slbiendonr of this hnir,hit 110- litiC•11111MUOU - V, that laid been partially dim-tied by the mist, of error and abuse, would beal:ovred, ere long, to re-az.uint. I tts ancient 'Witty and glory ! ~ I ii ir taitittr+ After some ceminendatory remarks on the recent act of Lord Camel( a, the Noble Earl moved that the Lords be mom mimed for this thy fortnight (the 26th hist ) to take these ( Ith'slions into consideration. The Limn CH SACELLOR observed. that the motion was regular, and therefore he should not object to it.—.‘lljourned. THURSDAY, FEB. 13. Mr. Ilionerieff, and Air. Jeffrey were heard in the Queens • -- bury Cases. Further healing to-mori ow. After some routine bushiest,. the House adjourned. FRIDAY, ►EB. 11. In the Whiteside or Queensberry Gress= case, Mr. Jeffrey finished his s,leceli at half past two o'clock, when the further hearing was adjourned till Monday. The Loun CHANCLLLOR then went out for a little time. with Lord Sidinoutli, who had come down to the house • about two o'clock. His Lordship (the Lord Chaneellor)soon after return( ti, and on his motion the house was adjourneU till Monday. HOT'SE 01: CONIMONS. MONDLY,FEB, 10. The SeesllCß read a letter from Exmouth, stating, that his Lordship had communicated the Thank, of the House, as truosmitted to him, to the Sappers and Miners of the Artillery employed at the bombardment of Algiers. Sir S. HUNTLEY gave notice, that he should on Wednesday move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Game Laws„ . I•4e lion. Membrr said, be had also had a Petition put into his hands, signed by several individuals, complas!:ing of the misconduct of certain Magistrates in •he Tower thank is, in lieensisii; public! houses. He considered this Petit.ou to he Or such a nature, that it was but fair the parties against about it prayed should have opportunity, if they tlion.:M !`rol'vr, to defend tiles:twice*. He theref..re cave notice, that he should :n-morrow se': night preset)! that Petition. Mr. Conwsv ftaVe notice that he %%mild. uo the :Stir. 'its mit a motion to the lintive on the :uubjert (,f the Pour i aas. Mr. BENNETT postponed hi- motion the subject of the appointment of Mr. !terries to be Auditor of the Civil List, from Wednesday to Thursday ,e.'nnight. REFORM. Gen. FEnr•.csoa presented a Petition from Dysart, prhying for Reform and Retrenchment. The Hon. Gentleman st.iild not refrain, on this occasion, from advertina to the 'ilium al leled distresses of the people ; and must declare, that the measures adopted by the Noble Lard and his colleacue., by the mockery of a Committee, was only an insult to the teelnoz* of the people. lie must also Wasei cc, that lie had alwa.s been a friend to Reform, useful reasmabie Reform; at the same time, lie must dreittre, 1., should ever oppose. %tat all hi. power, the vosionar.) &rhyme of iiiiWersal self. age. The Petition was receired,and ordcred o Ise on 't:Table., Nlr. presented a Petition from t h e town of Kil marnock, praying for Parliamentary Reform. The Host. Alember took this occasien to enter into a review of the pre sent state of the Svottish Representation, which he vonteurled was most unequal and inefficient. Nlr. P. Moons: presented a Petition from Birmingham, praying for Parliamentary Rs foi in. and prayitig that them selves might be represented. The Icon. slraubcr stated. that the meeting at %%Meta the Petition was agreed to was most rootlet oils ; and the conduct of those assembled at it was toast peaceable. Mr. BitounitAst felt the highest satisfaction at this state ment. In general, however, the unnieroio meetings which had taken place hail been must praisewort h y and peaceable. This conduct on the part of the people, arid tL linnacrons petitious presented nightly, signed by !modal its and by thou sands, proved what the general sense of the piropi, was. With respect to the proceedings of t h e Committee win sitting, to eimiiire into the reality of the disaffeetion said to exist in Ca rlon. districts, lie trusted the Report oi - that ef.'11111: t re. auitid prove the rumours unfounded. He hoe ever wished to refrain from saying any thing till the Report should come before the House, alien it would be their duty to else it a full dismission. He trusted every one would come to that discussion with an unprejudiced mind. One thing, however, lie limit advert to, and express his regret at: it %vas a circumstance which lint taken 'place within the last g t hour'. He did not consider it as necessary to speak more plain; bathe must ekdress regret at seeing polities introduced into aj dace uo secalar consideration ought eVer to be solereil to laten t ly,. Thi s course hail twill adopted in the worst tiint, of our histore„ and for the worst of purposes. lie hoped such It course was not now to be ailoptt'Cl. 'the Petition isa , th:m trail, and ordered to lie on the Table. AUDITOR OF COLONI A L ACCOUN Fs. Mr. Theo. rat tll asked, that as there wa• 4 racanec in the office of -111,11i,,r of the Colonial Acentint• in consequeoce of the death of lir. Edward:. whether the office wa• tilled up. Mr. ItoUINstIN, 1 , 1 %%110111 the tillC.tion Wa4 oldr,s,rd t that no now apliointhient Ii id heeti Mr. STVROIA 841111:41 , observed, that it wits not iotriuicti to 11141. c any new appolitton lit to the Ato iti ssss . Mr. BUM au 4. 111, who had intended to submit a moti oi to the Hot se on this subject, was esetedincl) happy that his inoti, n wotlit be thus rendered ininecessAry. [E , ery 'dr p towards retrenchment and economy aluclit to he ali‘iitic.ly 'narked by the friends of the Con.ll that its are " trentblinal :dire all o'er' and directs of a CUllll'Ary mature LEATHER TAX. Mr. BFNINETT 1110% ell fora return of Drawbar air' the I)titics paid an Leather, fur the last (ant c Baucnii ‘No!orrvill, that no tax had eV p ose d by a ,mallor 1113 . j.trity than the Lealter tie trusted hi; limo. icaitt would, in the rout , ion, again press for its repeal; as the great which the in this time of ilktress, could people would be, to rt peal some of ille most 04, titotion, saving r" lu ill erroT ' • backs allow . • ' ; Itr quarter. 4 e rcr becu Ta• 11.1t1 • - lei' • -"eli. ar.e of thq '): Id colder , . " • ' +-oxib:snis 4 b : 3: 7 31 . •elt--3...‘