The National Register. — London, England, 1812-12-13 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. Cur ting, Conotitittion, no Xabs. PUBLISHED AT NO. 11, NEINCASTLE-STREET, STRAND. 039. SUNDA I', Dli CE IVI 13 Elt 13, 1812. pß;ct 9:. TO SIR FRANCIS BURDETT, BART. M. P. LEI L'ER I. Sot—To an honest representative of the people no apo logy is necessary for a political address ; if you think other wise, being one of your constituents, I claim the licence as a constitutional privilege granted by yourself.—But why should vot' object? Infamy and imprudence only shrink from in icitigation—virtue and honour arc ever candid ; and though modesty may screen them from observation when unu , s,iiled, the proud emotions of rectitude—the impoitance ci character—and a just regard for a fair estimation in so cioty, will force them into notice when the cloud of suspi cion would orer-shadow them.—An upright man, therefore, fears not the result of enquiry, like the sun at noonday, be .Lines with greatest brilliancy, when you arc most sensible of his effects—when the radiance of his mind is most public, and the genial warmth of his heart laid operr—like a star in the firmament, he gains additional lustre from strietinvesti cation. The pure exercise of virtue regards not the applause of a mob; as whether of a public or private nature, the. only ele vation it Leeks is a mind ennobled by its influence—general good is its object—humility its.Rusign. Good men seldom abke professions ; " they work their works in secret," and the plea,ore of reflection is their reward—the trout honourable neve' boast—and, the ?Tally wise do not court opportunity Ito make long speeches. These inferences are not, however correct, universally admitted. The generally received adage, " that there is no rule without an exception," is opposed to the certainty of such eoncluions; and you, Sir, who appear to bask in the sunshine of popularity—to make frequent declarations of your public spirit—to rriprobate vice in others—to give un ceasing assurances of the purity of your own mind, and 'hose orations are both long and frequent, ate cited as an inctance of the little dependence there is to be placed on them in forming a jud4ment of mankind.-- Y - , u, Sir, who ale heard, loud in your own praise, and reht.ment in your censure of others, are extolled for your humanity, pa riotisna, and liberality—looked up to with confidence as t.c saviour of your country—the idol of your constituents— the pride of England. I am ctedulous enough to believe (notwithstanding the Pains taken to convince people otherwise) that exalted virtue may be found in the higher class of my countrymen— wany you are allowed to possess it—by my many, also, it is denied you ;—public report is noisy in your praise—public eport is also strong in your dements. An expression of opinions, and conduct, on some occasions opposite to the aarnr:ter of o our general professions, have dor' ived. you of N CCL/Xt the sanction of sober judgment, and reduced you to a con temptible and precarious political dependence on an untu tored, unthankful rabble, whom caprice varies as the wind. Your partizans arc industrior s in their eflbrts : they check the progress of your shame; they are anxious to confine the knowledge of your disgrace to the dark recesses of their own hearts ; they fear lest yourself should know it ; surrounded as you are by political zealots, and duped by knavish pall. tic;ans, I am solicitous to point out to you the rued 'senti ments of the people, to recal you from that state of error which mistakes the vilest party motives for such as are of a general and patriotic nature, and by making you sensible of the injury your reputation has sustained, bring into action those reasoning faculties in your mind (to produce a new in fluence) which have hitherto been kept dormant 11 the mis representations of unprincipled demagogues. An attentive observer of you during the time you have had a scat in the Commons llou,e of Parliament, cannot easily mistake the nature of your: politics : the friend and advocate of DESP A RD, you deprecated his confinement as an infringement on the liberty of the subject, and a gross vio lation of the law of the land, and reprobated Ministers for having recourse to a measure which the complexion of the times rendered necessary. Every man must regret that there should exist a necessity fur suspending the Habeas Corpus Act, but no reflecting individual can think such proceeding inexpedient, when resorted to for the public good; neither can it be supposed that humanity is outraged by an arbitrary influence, when its operation is confined to per sons whose infamy is notorious--traitors ready to lift their impious arms against sacred majesty, and, by their infernal machinations, subvert the glorious constitution of our fa voured isle—miscreants who, by sowing the seeds of rebele lion, would bring the curse of civil war into the country-- give a reign to anarchy, and let loose all ,the hideous train of violent dotructive passions, which depravity engenders to create di.:sentions among the people, nod embrue their hands in the blood of their kindred—men with whom li centiousness, is liberty—outrage, political freedom ; and, Sir, I defy you to particularize a sing,le'instance, in which it has been exercised against a per son v ho was not deserving of greater severity. To mislead and divide the people sire ricked expedients and will never be attempted by any who have not eii -er weak heads or corrupt hearts. Public honesty revolts at the infamous task, and true wisdom despises it. The po tve strength and political influence of a nation del:ends on he unanimity of its inhabitants. The most splend nts in the government of a country may be rendered ineffi ;.. tutimient spii it in the subjects, and the n-o :a oi! , circumstances may result from their being deprived of free :10. 1 :01 4PU