The National Register. — London, England, 1809-09-03 00:00:00

55S TILE NATMNAL REGISTER: to silbstitute quite another guess sort of thing in the place of it." It may be expected that we atlil our own interpre tation, which cannot be better clpicssed than icy the words of Bacon. " It is good also not to try experiments in slates, except the necessity be urgent, or the utility be evident ; and well to beware that it be The reformation that draweth on the change, and not the desire of change that pretendeth the reforma tion." Pursuing the same style of interrogation, these gentlemen will, perhaps, answer us as they have done, that the period to which they allude, as good ohl times, was soon after the Revolution. At this' period they have got a Parlia ment without a statesman, ta placemen, or a pensioner; now how did.it happen that such a Parliament, so com posed, should actually pass an act to-relieve statesmen and ministe - s, placemen and pensioners, from this very inca pacity ? And what security can be given, that if a Parlia ment, in which there are so many pensioners, should, in a fit of generosity,disable so large a portion of its members —what security, I say, can be given, that a mew Parlia ment, purified and defeca:ed according to the most approved receipt, will not again view the absurdity of this seperatioii in the same light as it was formerly seen, and open their doors once more to statesmen of all descriptions ? If we may argue from what has been done, we • have a right to expect it. As to these good old times, we will give a description of them in the words of a Reformer of those . days. The speech is not only interesting but curious; if the descrip tion be true, it will satisfy the Public that some ulterior object is pronoied by theattempt to bring us back to good old Vines, which the parties are afraid to avow publicly, for we e,:unot suppose them ignorant (whatever they may conceive the Public to be), as to the condition of these ; . lod old time::, or the coinplaints which the Patriots of that day made about them ; we cannot believe that you ar.d Sir FnAsseTs, and Lord do not know these good old dines iy,!re even worse than you, N:r. CORBETT, in the plenitude of conceit - and impudence, have ventured to describe the pre sent times. It is the speech of Lord MU I.GRAVE, in the year 1692, and was delivered in the presence of those great men who had brought about the Revolution, and placed King WILLIAM upon the throne; and upon the occasion of a Bill being brought into the lions,: of Lords, for the freedom of election and more impartial proceedings in Parliament. Our Readers will perceive from the date, how few years had elapsed after the Revolution when this state of things is said to have existed. My Lonns—This debate is of so zreat consequence that I resolved to be silent, and rather to be advised by the ability of others, than to chew my own want of it. Be sides, it. is of so nice a nature, that I, who speak always unpremeditately, apprehend extremely saying any thing - which may be thought the least redeetinp;; though even that ought not to restrain a man here from doing one's duty to the public, in a business whew it seems to be so highly concerned. I have always heqi I have always read, that foreign nations, and all this part. of the world, have admired and envied the constitution of this govern ment; for, not to speak of the King's power, here is a Mouse of Lords, to advise him on all important occasions, about peace or war, about all things that may concern the nation, the ca' hich ' - lich 'Amsted to. your Lordships. '.ps cannot be so conversant lie, uor so r -T SEPT. 3 constantly in the country as is necessary for that purkose, here is a• House of Commons aiso, chosen by the very people themselves, newly come from iimong them, or •, ire should be so, to represent all their grievances; to express the true mind of the i - ition, and to dis c ose elf their mo ney; at least, so far as to begin all bins of that naknee ; awl if I am not mistaken, the very writ. for electiens, sent down to the `.sheriffs, does ampowtrr.theni to choose—what --- , their representatives. Now, my Lords, I beseech you to consider the meaning of that word, Itepresenta:ive. Is it to do any thing contrary to their mina? it would be absurd to suppose it; and yet how can tt be otherwis.:„ if they, after being chosen, change their dependency, en g age. themselves in employments plainly inconsis:ent s that great trust reposed in them; and that 1 wiii take the li berty to demonstrate to your Lordships they now do, at least according in my humble opinion. I wilt ins' e, first, in the least and lowest incapacity they must be under, 11. ts so take employments. Your Lordships know but too veil, what a general carefulness there appe., rs ever) day more and more necessary in the public husiixss. It so, how is it likely that men should be as diligent in their duty in Parliament as tat business requires, where en\plo meats, and a great deal of other business, sha4 taka up both their minds and their time ? But then, in serue cases, it is Norse; as in commands of the army, and other employments of that kind, when they must have a dividend duty, for it does admirably become an °nicer to sit votin i ; away money in the House of Commons, while his soldieis perhaps taking it away at the quarters, for want of his presence to restrain . their,, and of better discipline among them—nay, perhaps, his troop, or regiment, may be in some action. and lie must either base the shame cif being absent . from them at snch a time, or from that House, %acre he is entrusted with our liberties. To this I have heard but one objee; ion by a Noble Lord, that if this act should p7ses, that the King would not be allowed to make a ( a Colonel, without J:sabling hint to sit in Parliament. Trek', if a Captain has only deserved to be advanced for expos k ug himself in Parliament, s think. the nation would have no great loss in the King's letting alone such a preferment. Bat, my Lords, there is another sort of incapacity yet worse than this ; I mean that of parliament-men having such places in the Exchever, as the very profit of them depends on the money given to the King in Parliament. Would any of year Lordships send and iatrust a man to make a bargain for sou, whose very interest shall be to make you 'rive as w , _ch as he can poAi - bly ? P puts me in miHd of 4 farce, where an actor holds a dialogue with hinr;self, speaking first in one tone and then answering himself ia another. Really, my Lords, this.is no farce, for it is no laughing matter to undo a nation; but it is eogether as unnatural for a Member of Parliament to ask tist,- in the King's ?lame, for such a sort of supply, gi - e an account from him how much is needia! towards the pai , lg such an army, or such a beet, and then immediately give, by his ready vote, what he had before asked by his master's order. Besides, my \ Lords, there is such a necessilv now for long Sessions of Parliament, and the yell pri% ileges belonging to a Member are of so great ex tei.t, that it would be a Pule hard and unequal to other GentleTnem that they should have all the places also. All the objections that have been made may be reduced to these:--Ist, It is told us, that it is a disrespect to the King that his servants, or officers, should be excluded. To this 1 desire it may be considered, that it is in this case as when a tenant send* up any body to treat . for him, would any of yaur Lordsli:ps think it a. direspect, nay, would the King himself think it ally, if the tenant would not A; holly refer himself to one of your own servants, or the King's Commissioaers in the case of the crown. And if he chooses rather some plain. honest friend of his own to supply his absonce here, veal any man blame such a proceeding, or think it unmannerly. Besides, your Lordships know, that even this act admits them to . b.:: chosen, notwithstanding .their employments; arc of which is very much int But yet, ~.,, , ~ 5 jakur Lordshil wits e.J...,w, i.. orpeopi i ..,tit-KA