The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1807-12-04 00:00:00

OF COMMON COUNCIL, brc. s. There was a very numeroos meeting of this' Courr, in consequence of the expelled Motion of Mr. Waithrnan on the Resolution of Thanks for merly voted to Sir Home Popham. Tt.ere was a multylicty of previous business ' and a variety of reports were broug ht o p b y Mr. James Brewer. The Thanks of the Court were unanimously voted to the late Lora Maroa, ordered sq be written on vellum, framed and glas4 and present ed to his Lordship. BREACII OF PRIVILEGF. Mr. WAIIIINIAIt called the attention of the Court to a circumstaace which had occurred since the notice of his intended Motion. and was adopted tor I no other purpose than to create an unfavourable in fluence in the minds of the Members of the Court. .—.on Wednesday last, Br /I 't Weekly Ihßpateli was left, with the usual notice, by the Marshalmen tit this Court, at the houses ot its respeetive Mem bers._ In that Paper there was a long article in op position to the intended Motion, and in defence ot 0 4 zinme Popham. It could be for no other pup. p i) ... it:an to produce at. unfavourable impression against the Motion which he (Mr. Waithmai) wouldh ivy the honour to submit. Mr. S•seutt Dixon contended, that every means were used by the last speaker and his friends, by the means of the Newspapers, to forestall the decisiOn of this Court. In one paper, (Mt 7 . inits,) there was a menace held out to give the speeches in poetry. But he would tell the dirty fellow who wrote it, (it he was in Court,) that it was a libel, and ought to be punished. Atter some observations, a motion was put. and carried, to have the Marshalmen called in, in order to be examined, relative to this uhjus:itiahle inters Terence. The Marshalmen accordingly attended, and stated, that they lied received the Newspapers, will. the other regular notices, at the Mansion-house, and were desired, by his Lordship's gate-porter, to deliver them at the respective houses ot the Members. file Lye() hitter)* assured the Court, that he was perteelly unacquainted with the delivery ot these papers. On his return from the Old-!Smiley, he found one on his own table, and he was led to presume that it had been Sent by the Lditur. SLR lIONSF. POPIIIAM. M. WArtit ii a N ruse to IllAtite his promised mo• fon. lie ithe.red the necessity of according the decision of that Court with the carcuinstatices of the case. Circumstances with which, it the Court was a,quainted, it never would have passed the re solution which it was the ofjeCt of his present mo tion to resci:.d. Was be not apprised of the inten tion ut some persons to oppose him, indeed of then determination, previous to the ili.eussiun, to give their negative, he would have shaped his speech in a very n irrow compass, and confined himself to a very shrift steno it ut the particular.. But he still felt confident, that be addressed himself to a lumber of men anxious to decide upon the merits of every transailtion, avid who, theretute, would fuel it their duty, upon the full knowledge of circum stances, to rescind that vote, to which they (Meet would have agreed, but hi the absecce of true e.t.a accurate information. The charge against Sir Home Popham was, for acting seafront due:lions in his stuck on Buenos Ayres, and by withdrawing the troops and.ships of war from the Cape of (staid !tope r leaving that valuable possession m a state of insecurity. Independent 01 WO culpable conaul, Sir tl. Popham had, by his letter a dent time pre vious, intimated to the Admiralty, his expedations of art adcbtinnAl Freoch squad:foto in the Mamiiiias ; and with this krvawledge he left tie Cape without a ship of war, and had aftsully determined to sail on toe expedition to buttress Ayres, even without land troops, Sir David Baird having positively refused to admit any embarkation of the troops at that settlement. Fur subsequent •1145.0115, that gal lant officer was induced to change his upsnion. and perhaps the acquiescence can he reconciled with the contraEl entered into between him acid Sir Hume Popham, when it was agreed, that of the plunder ot Booms Ayres. tory should each divide twodifths. Indeed, in the whole of the business, it was evident, that the adventure origin ited 111 the spirit of plunder and booty, and the same span was the aCtuating print-10e through every singe of it. The worthy Commoner then took au eaten sive view of all the letters and dustaments proauced on the trial ; Erst, the a:ting without or dtrs, the inadequate force, the want of provisions in tam ar- Matnetit, which Was for two days aftually without bread, and the dreadful state nt insecurity in subsets the Cape of Good Hope, the Ingo road for our Indiamen, was placed. Having left the Cape, the gallant Officer took a stretch for St. Helena, and also deptived that Island of the greatest part of its garrison. The next point was the iittormation upon * which he aged Had he any certain grounds for the formation of his opinion, or for the hope of its success ? No :he steed upon the general inferences of a weekly Provincial Newspaper. Forsooth, a good authority, for a man entrusted with the per formance of limited duties, in a certain latitude, to extend his sphere of abort, and commit the coun try and government in the prosecution of an at tempt with which they were originally unacquaint ed, and for which they were made ultimately re spoasible. Having reached Buenos Ayres, winA tan be said for the anxiety and suspense in which he kept this country atter its recapture by the inhabitants: Three months elapsed, and no communication Irons Sir Hume. The responsibdity of the G: - .$ vet nruent, and the anxious feelings of the country, were wantuidy sported with, only to give Sir Home an•aher chance to retrieve his reputation. 'inc dollars were tea home ; the coitti aft for their division was executed ; OZcers weir called upon to make up certaw sums for Sir Home; but a tit seized him upoo his being apprised of the death of Mr. Pitt, and no nicnton was atter made of those sordid expeiaations. 'I he Gentleman then entered into a ttaesety of other ob servations, and concluded with at:Efrain*, that to r...tcoe their own Journal; from the imputation of xls;u:di!y, and the charaaer of Sir Hume from in •iitzi they were boo i 4 et, rescind • resolution, Incompatible with the merits of the case, and at dired variance with the decision of the Boerd, of Admiralty, during the last and present Actmusistra l!on, and with that explicit verdict of Witt Hunt W. th 4 Ccititt, by which that Officer was tried, Wag COU , i Mr. W hiWOMAN Cern. following, Metal: 'gniity, and chided with reprimanded. .n•fopnsing the _ That thisCoort having, on the 2d d.y of October, IEO6, resolved to Monk Cominod ire Sir tioon• Po t iliata, fin the very important services rendered by him, to the capture of Buenos Ayres ,• at once opening a new Inoue of Commerce to the !Manufactories of Goat Britain, and deprivals her enemies of one of the richest end must extmetore Colonies in her polar, inn;" and also, "to present to him a Sword, of the value of Two Flondrat and it appearing Irani etc! irrostantes which haie dace transpired, that th.t said res. , - lutions were prematurely aml !improperly entered into, this Court are of opinion, that they ought to be espanged from th,e iuurnalt of its ittocueddmia, and do hereby dusti Mr Town Clerk to expunge the same. Mr. SAMULI. DIZON contended, that' the great crime of Sir Home Popham. in the eyes of the worthy Mover, was, the confidence placed in him by Mr. Pitt. The anion for which it was now en deavoured to traduce him, was the proudest of lilt life ; it was done for the good of his country, and sprang from the same motives as afluared all the enterprising heroes in our history. What ! this Court rescind its Motion of Thanks to a man for acting in a manner, in which, if those who had succeeded, had acted, that valuable settlement would now be in the possession of the British nation ? He sou surprised that the present Motion was mit more extensive, and that the opponents of S.r Home Popham did not conclude their motion, by voting to the gallant Gen. Crawfurd that sword, because he had lost his own. Mr, James Dixesm opposed the motion, upon the ground tbat Sir Home was animates by the same ardent love of country, which often almost forced te greatest men, such as Nelson, St. Vincent, and many others, to a.st beyond the ittift letter of their instruitions. Mr. Alderman Bitten put to the Assembly the undecided charafter in which the Court would ex hibit itself- by the adoption cf the present motion. He asked them to say, whether this tribute of ap probation was voted for a particular set vice or not ? It it was voted for that particular service, the ques tion was, whether or not the service was performed ? —The country had pronounced their opinion upon the value of the services of this great and gallant Offer. And he felt persuaded. that the result cf that day would add honour to his well-earned fame, and, in its effe3, operate as the resolution of a second vote of thanks. The Cburt was called to participate in a par sr %ruffle. and to answer the pim p/Ise* of Wiliam It was tit resolve itself into a tri bunal for discussing, net the condult or the cones queaces, but the motives of this distinguished iadi- Hewoula say further, that even had his persecutors suceeee'ed in ceshierlig him, that C t was still bound to fulfil the ttthute of regard which it had previously tassed. There was a difference, which the present mover seemed to overlook, between &Cling without orders, and coerrary to or ders. The only obj•Bion that could be supported, was, that this distinguished Officer had done more that he was instrotted. And, pertaph when the motive if his recall and isersscution was consider of, it would he found- mit Sir Home Popham was more politically than prolessionally wrong Every an and brilliant exploit condliCed by that man, ad the strangest effed on the new flux of ta lents, that, on the death of M-. Pitt. poured in upon the country. The capture of the Cape was received t!.e country with enthusiasm, by the Talents. With sullenness. rim surrender of Buenos Ayres to the Br I rish arms, vas a good thing, but its merits were dete riorated, because Sir Home Popham was the VlZtar. The Hera, who, in a few months, took the capitals a Africa and South America, was afterwards refused, not a shop of war, but aCtually a transport, to con vey himself to England. Reinforcements were refused to him, by those Ministers, who aftersaa;dl planned an armament, the most pre-eminent in the British insult, for imbecility and ignorance. Urine every view, he was certain the Court would op pose a system of persecution against a man. " the head and front of whose offending," was his 7-al and ability in extending the glory and honour of his country. Mr. Alderman Ilowcanit conceived it an im prudent, unnecessary, and wanton morim. Already the diatinguished Officer had received the appro bation of the Admiralty, even when under the im pression of a violation of stria discipline. The M. di& of the Court Martial, save the breach 4.1 dis cipline, expressed an approbation of the general condue9 tit Sir Home Popham, and operated as a palliation for the alleged disobedience. The worthy Aldermen thought the introdalion of tne nausea of other °nicer'. and other topics, however is themselves important, very irrelevant to the pre sent subject. The question being loudly called for— Mr. WA tTHSIAM replied in a very animated manner. He repelled the insinuation of being aftuated by party Views. The political J.:era:ter of Sir Home had been alluded to as tile ol,j-Et of hos tility. Ile never knew that Officer had a political character, although he was well aware that he was a very politic man. After some other general observations, the Court divided, when there appeared—Against the Mo tion, besides the Lord Mayor, 10 Aldermen, 11 lf2 Commoners, and 2 Tellers, 105 —For the Mo. 630, 2 Aldermen anal 5 Commoners, 7 ;—making a r- of 93 against the motion, majority • • Saturday night, /fan ilarriso”. under sentence of transportation, escaped horn Gloucester city gaol. • Na appearance of force being observable any where about ilieprison, or in her cell. (where she was wefts:ly dup on the preceding evening.) it is strongly suspelied that she must have been assisted in her escape by one of the gaoler's servants, who has in con equence been put into confinement. Yesterday. a welt-known chatailer, in the neigh bluriinod of Clare-marker, for the trifling wager of beta prat of gm, eat a /woad and cc Hl' of rew led; aid a twopenny loaf, in 41 minutes. On ?iaturday, a Gentleman of the name of.lomvs, Went 011 bOArd a vessel lying at Blackwell. and as he sal quitting the ship, fell over her side and disappeared. The mar. assisted by the crew, im mediately fastenedituasself to a rope, dived alter him, and was fortunate enough in rescuing has from a watery grave. Mr. Jumps was soon snIS clearly recovriLsi to converse. mid , a fter changing t his clothes, Stc set off in his gig, accorapained by a friend, in his house in Blonnisoui y. where, having arrive.% his cainpaninn, who had descended +rum theveiucle r• atf.iisi him ••vistance, discovered the umfoluatiad Litaucinan had breathed his last. COURT OF 'She Defendant, in this cause, was a Surveyer or Inspettor for the Commissioners of Pavements, and while in the execution of bis duty, appeared rather to have exceeded the powers conferred on him by the AR of Parliament, and used the Plaintiff, who was a green-grocer, in roughly, that he brought this mem to recover damageolor an assault. The offence took plare in TnttenhArn-Court-road, upon Saturday, the 4th of July, when the Defendant, being obstruned in reizing some fruit-baskets be longing to the Plaintiff, thought proper also to seize him by the collar, and take him before a MAgistrato befere whom he (Sneitt ) was fined in the penalty of twenty shillings. From the evidence, however, it appeared, that there were fault, on both sides. The Jury gave a Ilerdia for the Plaintiff—domagei 40s. ritroottos v. COOPER. This was an anion brought by the Plaintiff, to recover the 'fettle nt a horse, which he had entrusted to the care of the Defend/lu, a milkman and gra zier, near liampreed. The ground nt this cleim was, that the Defend ant had used the freedom to employ the Plaintiff's hots* for his own purposes, in carrying hay, logs of wood, &c. and, upon one occasion, when endea vouring, with the assistance of six other men, his servants and neighbour% to catch the horse, while rambling through his extensive parks, one of the fore-feet of the animal got entangled in the shoe of one of his hind-feet, which occasioned a &lc:co:len, a great swelling, and, ultimately. death. Verdin for the Pieinoff—demeges :Al. 3s. THOSIPSON So. 110r/D. This was an ethos brought to recover the sum of 441. IS,. alleged to be the anoomt of expen-es in curred by a publican, for thing his personal exer tions, and sup flying refreshments to the Eleeors in the interest of the Right Hon. R. B. Sheridan, at the late Westminster Election. • 'fhe totroassit G At, for the stated, that it was sometimes matter of great sur prise to him, to see with what zeal and tiondslop people embarked themselves in election con.eite, in behalf of th •se candidates whom they wished to he most successful. 'Phis was an observation whichl might with great propriety be applied to ail elec tions that were contested, but to none more strongli than to those in which the Right Hen. R. B: Sheri den was engaged. There was no candidate whose cause was so warmly taken up upon all oeeniottes• l end by all descriptions of individuals, as the caustbf that Right Hoo. Gentleman, and among others. the Detendant, WilliAm Bond, had sealoesly em looked to forward his (Mr. Sheridan's) views 'and inttrests in the lute Westrnmster Eleeion. This sit. Bond knowing well, :hat his (toe Attorney General's) citent , Mir. i hnmpson, was a ',croon of tonsideraole interest, and that he had a house, aed a large room, vouch weie well adapted for receive mg and entertainiiig voters, took. upon himself to engage him in his favourite CRUM'. The tans of the case were thew t Mt. Samuel Thompson, the Ploiotil, was a Ell4liCEl), at the George aad Boer, Orchard-street, Westminster, and the Defendant, WM. Bond, oleo a poollean. in Hungerloro-Mare bet. Previous to the commencement of the Elec tion, the Defendant applied to the PlAintia to em ploy his exertions in behalf of ti's favourite candi date, and to bestow toe use of his house, and re freshments to those who were to vote fs.r Mr. Sho rtie-L. Mr. Thompson at first declined inteefertng, saying he was as much disposed as he (tne.De tendant), to expose the Cause Of that worthy cud patriotic candidate, hut that really he could not afford is ; and the more so, because he had been ' a loser upon a former And similar occasion, having expended a considerable suns of money, and never having been repaid it. Gutless, therefore, he could he assured of being repaid his expenses And be see munereteil for his trouole, he should not agree to the proposal To this Mr. Boni assented, 110.1 said lie would see him paid ; and accord'ngly Mr. Thompson did anuAlly dedicate his largest chic,- room to this service, and many voters were entere toned, moshoite/y, at his house. Noehiog of hot wAs creoted, and nothing exorbitant was put down in his ultimate demand, winch amounted to 44i. las. Ile could net anticipate any defence that could be made by the Defendant's Counsel against this cia in, unlesss it was that the Plaintiff had pre viously sent in his tell to the Committee Alhog for Mr. Sheridan; but he apprehended that, even al though his coent might have been pechap. prevailed upon to do so, yet not having succeeded, he had not thereby pre:hided I,:msett from having re course upon Mr. Bond, who had given hem this order, And whom be uatieretuu4 was himself one of that Committee. E.lward Gilbert was the first Witness called. He wai examined by Mr. GARAOW, who was also on behalf of the Plaintiff, end deposed ' that be re membered seeing Mr. Bond at the George and Boar, duling the early part of last Westminster Elation. Build called Thompson out of doors, when they had swine conversation, which he (tbe Vs 'mess) did not hear ; but afterwards, Thompson desired him to come out, and attend to what they wete saying. Mr. Thompson oat rated the story of what he had done upon the foirner tlonion, in the interest of Mr. Sheridan, for whoh he never had re ecived any remunes Atinn. Mr. Bond said to him, that it he ( Mr. l'hompsoe) would again assist, as he had done before, in canvassing, lie should have seven shillings and six-pence per day, tar his se:- vices ; and a similar oiler was made to the Witness himself. lie understood Mr. Thompson's haute was engaged, but he did not see it engaged by Mr.. Bond, there having beau nothing said in that con versation relative to that sullied. Both Mr. Thomp son and the Witness accordingly did every thing in their power on behalf of Mr. oriencian, and the large room was used exclusively for entertaining the voters with meat and chink. Coos-oreerined by Mr. PAS R• He did not know the Plaintiff's hand-writing, as be funisell cow.' not write. Sarah Gilbert deposed, that she was in the Plain tiff s bar one evening awing the early port of the Elerni o, end .he a•w and he ad Mr. i t oto ocin ri Mr. B ad cowrsaing town' about . Thompson Mention s d ,na Mr ... y 1 hOnlrion Ir 3 ll, ti, PIOT* -I shim' mess i for Mr. Bors:! r and those friends whom I e might bring with him. „ pe t . ta am hear any thing sail tby either of theni 4s- rp r is i theil M. Tr onipson wa• .0 have Mehl' personal s,munera'on. fib- was freepundylshatest after at Mr. 'lir mp-res house and fsViritr. Semi frequently there exceed ugly three( to Mr. lihrni= behalf, and she knew that the friends a( that date w. re provided with tette:it - In. Ms der' *lb whole of the EleCtion, in the large chilli , that Mr. Bond or Mr. !hose pson was geenrellytMlll . them. Crourrterpoitil by Mr. P Aim. , She was no relation of Mr. Thonspetni, although she used frequently to go to his honer; she Men, hit hand-writieg ; (being shown a lesser, she depomtit WAS the Plaintiffs writing) $ she Mae certaie that Mr. Bond frequently ate and thank with the Eirse. tors. , William Gimpy, a soldier in the Guards. den I posed. that he had been in the habit of frequenting Mr. Thompson's house while off guard. He km* both Plaintiff and Defendant, and reenetnberedeb• latter coming to the house of the rernser upon shol2lll of May last. They were in the bar having something ri to drink, and conversed together, but be could not say What it was about. Upon that occasion, home • ever, IieSAW then. go op to look at the club.roorn, in company with another person, and when they came down again, he heard Bonet say to Thompson; that the room would do very welt. From the Air course that then took place between them, homier* . stood that it was for the purpose of receiving dui voters in the interest of Mr. Sheridan, and for en* . terfaining them with meat and drink, in any mani net Mr. lhompson thought necessary. He was at lhompson's, assisting in serving the Eleetors dur ing every day of cie E.teennn, except one, when he era; on duty. The chub-room was restively enevote4 to their use during eight complete days. alter the Nth of May. Mr. Thompson required his assist ance in furnishing the drink. as he himself was fie- coently out with Mr. Bond doing the °undone work. He could not say what the meat and drink so besenvred might reasonably atnnant to during that p,:rind ; hut he remembered that the score of 1 liquor alone, amounted, upon one particular dnye $ to four pounds ; a great deal having, by Mr. acme' particular dire/liens. been given to people who were out of doors, who were not voters. There v. 1 upon one mention% a round of beef that weigh/ nearly fifty pounds, made use of, with bread lord every thing else in proportion. There were * few ill t lipor drank by Mr. Bend himself pre. vious to the Elelition, which were scored up ten him. Cfill-eStIMMAt by Mr Pa art. Ile never was at the Hustings. and never saw any paper 111 this cause except tee subpoena with which he was served. He was certei i that Mr. Bond said the rash* *vett do very well ; and it was by their subsegoem conversation that he found it was for the purpose of the elation. The room was solely applied for the voters of Mr. SNericlan. Am, upon • :sett/relay there •as one of that gentlemsal flags brought there and bung out of the window. " James Marshal deposed, thuire reeolleaed being at Thompson's. during the avail:so, and treguenen ly saw Bond in the club-roam. He heard him give direeions to Thompson, to have every thing in reason, and he supposed he meant by thien refreehtnente tsn'the Fleanrs. B:sides the persons in the club-trot% there were others drinking at the bar, to vhoir. he remembered two gallons of beer were distriauted. He had been in rise }ana of fre quenting that house for four years. He knew that Thompson went ab tut' canvassing ; Le himself did so, although he was not employed. 4. Thorne* 'lmmo: , n deposed, that he was Ire qitently at Thompson's during the eleaion, and he liim,elt split several votes toe Mr. Elliot and edr. Sheridan. lie saw seismal pet,ocs witli Sheridan's colours, eatirg and drinkreg in - the elubnouna, which he understood was opened for their Mt*. - . dun l and he saw a A II; hanging out of the whoa doer. Thompson had solicited him to proem* some votes (or him, thinking, that, as he kept a barber's shop, he would have oppiirtunities cf see. ing a grett deal of company, arid w.s therefore the better able to Afford some aid E., the Plaintiff. Mr. Perm: in addressing the Jury 0.. behalf of the Defendant, stated, that he heartily j iined wi t h the Attorney-General ltd los astonishment, at 6-wing persons of such a description as that of the Plaintiff and Defendant in this cause, engaging in eleaion conte.ts, and expending their money, without know. lag how they were to reimburse themselves. or whether they were ever to receive it or not. It WAS truly a melancholy consideration, to find pa pie such as those who had been examined this day.' coming forward to attempt to make out caste of this kind, because he was convinced, that when the tea:wets well understood, it would ap pear that there was no more ground for charging the expenses attending the opening of this house upon Bond, the Defendant, than upon any of the Gentlemen of the Jury themselves, who a ere no way concerned in the eieftion. It was upon the 17th of June, and alter the eleaion was over, that Mr. Roi.d was said to have stated that the Plaintiff should have taken in his bill to Mr. I' rots, one of Mr. She ridan's committee. It was upon the 16th of May. that Band had said be had got a final order to open the Plaintiff's house, meaning that he had get such an order from the Committee. Where, he would ask. eras the necessity for saying he had got a t order, if he himself was to pay tne expenses cut of his own pocket ? He meant by this language to . say that Thompson was a friend of his, and being also a trienal of Mr. Sheridan, he had endeavoured to get the Committee to prevail upon Thompson to open his house. In a sub.' quent el:sneers:um. it was said that he expressed a wish that he had had nothing to doiwith it ; and it was an oneortant circumstance, that he had said, on the 17th ofJene. that the Plaintiff should have taken to his MB to Mr. Frost. and act to him, on ate (Mr. Park) could chew that the Plaintiff had causally adopted that plan, a circumstance that spewed to whom 1 considered himself bound to look fur i.is pay me When. hiswever, he found the C.inemittee coul raise money to settle his debt, h: th .1, f r a . _ .... . .. 4 • • ~. 41 4 . 1 CI . IN. . . Lifir f lITELLIOENCIL .. . .: ilf.4ll4.loolVi t rirsOe Ireitio* to do ivitb it, is hi _.--...--_ - Mirysies a Icon stern a f rale! . orris on I ard ape* - ICING'S BENCH, WISTMI 88888 , ' The. S. 40110. fo-d siia. .. You need no: !tar. as! shalt are riii i paiJ." Ui do thr•r icons, Mr. Thompson Sitting, at Nisi Prima. I said, hi trotsid !skit an illii.• part us the Election, lIMITH O. ZUMWENS. and e,ttrAss da telJalf of Mr. Sherd .n. Mr. ..1•... i.. th;. r Anat. _ar3 I a a Sort Cirsr OP I 'I 1.........•.. w.... .w wye.r•Agt to.iira . mess. for Mr. I