The National Register. — London, England, 1808-11-06 00:00:00

"i*Z: - /; 4t9r1.1.17,:r4 ~ ,__._.....,......,, * REGISTEito Mt NATIONAL e , 414443 4"6141' t. ~ 2 e spw:Nf • tAlhigit , , Our fling, Conattution, anti JAW. • .• i ~ ~~ .. . t . , SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, ISOS. No. 45. '; " • ( POLITICAL DISQUISITION: NUMBER FORTY-FbUlt. TO THE CITIZENS OF LONDON: 4 ENTLEM EN $ You have given on a recent occasion, the most une quivocal proof, that your independence; as Citizens, is not inferior to your obsequiousness as subjtets: We notice, with pleasure, this distinction; the' more so, as it coin pletely refutes an imputation strongly attached to your 'resolutions of late years, that as often as they referred to the conduct of 'Ministers, however objectionable it may have been, they were formed w►th a spirit of adulation and servility, as contrary to the spirit of the Constitution, as it was unsupported by precedents, in the course bf your former proceedings. We will not cuter here into a recapitulation of the addresses your corporation voted; in the beginning of this, and towards the conclusion of the last reign ; the monuments in your Guild-Hall incessantly remind you, on what principals your predecessors *.cted. Statues are always considered as marks of the highest honour and gratitude, when voted by independent assemblies; and so splendid a distinction is never conferred; in free countries, but on men who have rendered the most distinguished services to the community. Under this impression the Coinmon Coun cil of London resolved to commemorate and perpetuate the services rendered by Mr. Bcckford, during his Mayor alty. What were those services; which the most respect able corporate body in Europe thought lit to requite in the most honourable manner; in which human actions can be rewarded ? They cAMsisted in the generous efforts he made, during his Magistracy, to preserve inviolate the rights and privileges of his fellow-citizens, and in his in corruptible attachment to the genuine spirit of the Consti tution. If the patriotic exertions of that illustrious citizen deserved the immortality, Which is bestowed on the greatest uenefactors of mankind, his conduct must have been; in the highest sense, meritorious ; and his principles should 'serve as a beacon to guide and enlighten his successors in office. These observations are either strictly just ; or the eonduct of those who voted so e,:traordinar• . a remunera tion, was the most silly, unretlecting, and pernicious in its consequences that can possibly be imagined: It must be either allowed that Mr. Peckford rendered the t»ost distingtiished services to his country; or the Com mon Council of London were guilty of the dangerous and indefensible levity of rewarding a factious and tur bulent citizen, with the same profound marks of their veneration and gratitude, as are given to the greatest statesmen and warriors. If that be the case, no only the men who voted this uncommon and undeserved distinction, but those who tolerate it, arc equally reprehensible. such an apotheosis would be an insult to virtue, to merit, to .o:tiee, and the present tnembtlrs of that respectable body, if they con s id er it i n t h at li g h t; arc tra i tors to their con stituents, and insensible to their own rcputanon, if they do %tot hurl from its pedestal, a statue er,:aed to su undcierv• Nu. _IL. PRICE 84. ing an object. But should you feel a reluctance, Gentle men, to attach so much criminality to his conduct, and wish to extenuate it by imputing it to the spirit of that time, acknowledging that his intentions were honest, though mistaken, you arc equally blameable in allowing that me diocrity or error should usurp an honour due only to the most disinterested patriotism. This unwarrantable prosti• tution would place you in the same rank with the degrr Senate of Rome, when they placed Caligula'S horse list of the candidates for the Consulship, or voted stl to his master; but the latter, as soon as the tyre] overawed them, ceased to exist, rescinded their if decree, and overturned the altars and monument!, so servilely raised. You are not placed iu the gam( cament. No tyrant intimidates you with the apprel of instantaneous death, should you form any obni resolution. It is thr_.refore only doing you justice to presu► you consider the services rendered by that honest in the same distinguished - light in which they were by those who thought them worthy of so eminent compense. You acknowledge, Gentlemen, by thus sanctioning honours conferred on a former member of your Body the greatest virtue in a magistrate and citizen, and monnt to every other obligation, is a strict adherence( very principles which prominently marked his put duct; and that the right of petitioning is the ma and inalienable right of Englishmen. The proceed moved in a former Court, relative to the Answer to your Petition, are irrefragaide prooli: that liberal and patriotic spirit which immortalised the of Air. Reck ford, still exercises it's powerful and influenre. Your spirited and truly constitutional on this occasion, has secured you the thanks and the hation of your country, whilst it shims that your to your ..Sovereign is too genuine and enlightened to language of submissive. undiscriminating adulatior would be :is injurious to his real interests as insult:: understanding. The Monarch nmsti and ought proached by his people ; for his situation exclu , from a knowledge of particulars: it is so much hi! to know, and - which the persons who imbiediately him might feel it their advantage to conceal. If ii what is proverbially repeated, that the Servant; Crown frequently sacrifice to their passions the ho their master and the interests of their country, it pensably necessary that he should have since other, through which he may be acquainted with the grie' and complaints of his subjects. On no occasion was this necessity' go iniOrions as of the Convention of C;utra. The honotir of his M. government, which is inseparable from that of his subjects, was so strongly implicated by tnat disgrltceful acid unwar rantable transaction, that it was a murk of duty on the part of the people to sympathise with the feelings of the Sovereign. They hastened to convey to the Throne the expression of their tugret aad disareo'nteaent ; and a slight . ~, 1 I'l l • A P table prosti- Ate degraded • horse on the s toted statues tyrant, who sir infamous :Silt they had • f :• same predi- Ipprehension y obnoxious resume, that 1! voest citizen t ere regarded natant a re- ' c l ctioning the r Body, that • 1, , and tants- et•ici3 to those s public con- 14 0 ) 9 f skied proceedings, 6 . wer returned isat the sauce 1 the services and salutary .• mat conduct, d the appro- your loyalty ed to adopt a. allot), which suiting to his ;ht ti' be ap- !xcludes hirrt • h his interest ely !surround If it be true, rants of the ih honour or y, it is indis- thus- C grievances ws is on that his Majesty's