The Statesman. — London, England, 1812-07-10 00:00:00

;W . I ) . ~i 11 r p.. , LVIPAKIAL PAKLIAMCNT. HOUSE OF LORDS, .117Lv 9. to the Committee of Privileges on th , ‘ Qaecis.lierry Peerage. their Cordsbips motto a Resolution on tat. of the 11.0 1) I II ANCEILOR, that Sir Cowles 1/0w.. , 1: , . the Claimants had wade good ►is claim to the ticks of ft tarp' is iit Quern•herry. &c. and the Resolution being repined to the 'taus.. after prayers, Ras agreed to, awl the u twe of the Marquis onlcretl to be co teird on the Union Roll a oongst the Veers of Scotland. The English losohent Itehtors' rill syn.; recommitted, aid having passed t:sroligii a l'inainittee, bill) some further ishwode meats, wt ordered to he reprinted a.. amended., The Rosal Assent was •iveu by Ci AAAAA 116144)11 to the A/seated Taxes' Bill. the Postage Duties 13:11, the Excise Bill, the Ex chequer Bills' lid!, toe 5,080,1.13:11. I xelicipicr Bills' Bill. we. lush Treasury Bill , ' Bill, the l,0:10,0(01. Irish Treasury Bills' Bill. the Militis ray dud Clothing ifill, the Irish Militia ray a.. 11 Nothing Bill, the Nen coutullaud Trade Bill, thr West Intereoupte It'll, the Southern Whale t isiiery Bill, the Charitatile 'frusa.' Bill, the ilioritable Donations Bill, the 1 111 - 11 ful Oaths' Bill. the County hats Bid s the. Copper Doty .10111, the l'rloted llonsity Bill, the Irl,it Smoip Dudes' the llao ken' and l'esillisas' Ital. the Irish I.xci:ie. Bill, the Is i•b tigiatheases' Bill, Irish Commissioners' Bill. the Carintie Comusirmasers' Bill, the Bahama 1 aide bill, the Nltiri,ttic Acid • 1101. the Chelsea Pensioners' Bill, some lucid and private Bills, in all 38, The t ommissionen were the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Ilarrowby, and Lord Wahoinghatio. 'rhe Starch Bill and the St. flosoryce's Fields Improvement Bill Isere teed II World time cud committed for to-morrow. The Lottery Bill, the Lae tl Militia Amendonete Bill, the Corn Distillation .‘menolment Bill, and the Durby of Cornwall Leases' Ball, passed thro.igh Committers auoi were reported. The Commercial Exehegner Hills' Big, and the (meal Tokens' Bill, Aert•brm. 4 s. tip front the ( - gnomons. by Mr. Lashingtun and other Mem and read a fires time. The Regent' , Can...l Bill was also brought up by Sir James Graham and other Members, with tow %inenilments agreed to. Lord ELI() r moved the seclod rworling of the Highway Bill, but an nbjecina w s male by Lord (Valsingham; and after a few words from kart Stanhope, Lord Eliot gave nutine fur sooting the second readiug on %load ov, PROVINCIAL I/IS WINCES. The Earl of H. 11( 110(V rt I present d the Report of the Se- eret ( - committee, appointed to int estigatc the l)rentnents re ferred to in the Prince Regent's Message, a hich was ordered gal h- printed. 4i4jettrned till to-morrow • HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. (Planer, the peony litther of tht• BlAck Rod. summoned fhe lions,• to the House of evert , . to hear the ( ommissitto vl hen the Ittlal Atreat ems givt it to t.e% era! Public and ale 81111 4 far winch see Lord.. NT LX.lllEtiti ER REMEMBRANCER'S Sir SAMUEL R011114.1', in the absence of Mr. henry Martin, proposca the furthii: consideration of die Report of :he Committee uo the Exchequer Remenibraneer's Bill till Monday next. • T London Prisons, the.,Mourfields Improvements , the Loud 'Tokens, toe Semen ti:ipmas, and the Cumineocial Lschequer Bills' Bill, u ere read a third time and iia,seif. Thi. meril Lielosuie and the Life A nimities' Bills, passed througis di. Committees, nod Cie Reports nen. ordered to be re v: iv w Mr. VA :SSI f I'APT b ought in the Appropriation Bill and the Boating Ports Warrilonw.guoils Removal Bill ---They were read a first time, and ordered to he read a secuud.time to morrow. Tor .teport of the %my Prize Bill was brm•ght up, agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. Mr. IA II I ETOS in a Bill limiting the Exportation et certain a rtieles to mile I. e of Man.—lt was read a driit time, and .:rdere.l to he r.• id a second time to-ino row. The tot. Bill and the. Collee Bill were read isrcmitl time, cud d for Morday. Sir .11111 a llt ILA broaght in the new Manure Car ; which read a tint time, and ordered to be read a second time tu-enorrnn•. I. I •CI 11. RESOLUTIONS. Sir THOMAS 'FUR lON did not rise for the pur pose of submitting to the House for their discussion, at that time, the Financial Resoliitions of which he had already given jiotice. lie admitted that no mca s•:re had been resorted to sitico the new financial ar rauvutents, which he could fairly consider as ohjec tionalile. Ile rose now merely for the purpose o f vadirg his Resolutions, which he believed would be of incalculable benefit if finally adopted, and syste matically adhered to. lie then row to give notice that be would, on Monday nest, move thatthe noose du proceed to take these itesolu'ions into considera tio;! : the ResoltVions mete then read by the lion. Eurottes pro forma. Mr. V A NAT rma gave notice of his intention of moving, on the same day, a series of counter Re solutions to those proposed by the lion. Baronet.— Adjourned. - - Fit ENC II P.IPLItS. P %at 4, JULY 3.—Thk day, at two o'clock in the afternoos4 the Seaato now tabled. The Prince Arcot-Chancellur dolivered the follow. ing speech : ga/ hare to communicate to the Croat', by order of the Emperor, two I'r hies of Alliance, co.ocluded in the name of his 51.iie ty, one WIIII the Emperor of Austria, the other *lola the King of Prussia. 64 When our Sovereizn i pao.ing hi the midst of •kteries, terminated the urst Polish war, the Court of Rus•ia promised to adopt, without reserve, the plan wisely combined, for rescuing the Continent from the induence i.f England, mut for bringing back that power to principles nionrconfotntable to the rights of nations. Ravi* was not slow ,iii/flepartiiii from this sattrary sl igen). • " The change, on her part, beirg'innonneed by certain facts, and the abeam of iiegociation being in- Mies-Wally envie% ed tlitriviz the course of tim year 1811, the Eniper.a was hnuud to resort to measures which the cliguitv of his crsown, the interests of his people, and the I,lngor of his allies dictated.. " ireaties a hich are ahroit to be laid before you, form a step towaids the execution of this tie. His ill,;:riess the❑ d: , :ivered the documents refer efl to in his speech. RLFUKT UP Tin: attmisTrn Fort FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO TOE EMPEROR, &c. Stur,—The treaty b. , twern Vance and Russia was a treaty of Offensive Alliance a•,littst England. It %RS on your rs , turn from the conferences of the Nie men, in which the Emperor Alexander said to your Majesty, that he would be your second against Eng that you determined to sacri:ire the advantages ♦ictory hid given you, and to pass rapidly from the statt of war to the state of alliance with Russia. This alliance, which augmented for France the metins •f war against England, ought also to have secured the peace of the Continent. In MD, however. Austria made war upon France. Russia, in contra dictlon to the precise text of treaties, afforded no aid to your Majesty. Instead of the 150,000 men which might have been put in motion, and which ought to have• supported the French army, only 15,000 were brought into the field, and by the time they crossed the Russian frontier the fate of the war was decided. After this epoch, Sire, the Ukase of the 19th of December, 1810, which destroyed our commercial salaams with Russia; the admission of English mu. -~-- -rte ~a.~ Tim grATEsmAN. , . , merce into her ports ; her armings, wince. from the commencement of 1811, threatened the !evasion of the Duchy of Warsaw ; finally, the protest respect ing od e " b ur gh, annihilated the alliance. 'lt no longer 'existed, w•ien on both sides armies were formed for reci ;Foca I obset ration. " .111 e whole of the year 1811 was, however, spent imeottfereusos end aerciations yith Itustia, fu the hope of WithdraWing, if possible, the Cabinet of Pe tershurgli from thu war upon which it appeared to be tesolred, and to Obtain a knowledge of its real inten tions. It wined, to Plc certainty.ateridence, that 'twat 1 5 i;%"•er proposed at the same time to depart from the conditions of the 'Milt) , of Tilsit , to place herself in peace with England, and to menace the existence of the Duchy of Warsaw, making use of'the pretext of indemnities claimed for the Duke of Oldenburgh. " lour Majesty, determined to maintain by arms, the honour of treaties, the existence and integrity of the States of your Allies, has felt the importance of uniting yourself more closely to -a power, to which you were already attached by words dear to your heart, and the general political interests of which are the same as those of tour Majesty ; for this purpose, a Treaty was concluded on the 13th of this month. With Austria. _ " Every thing promiseva Ion; duration to this al liance. It assures repose to the South of Europe, and promises to France that she shall no longer be disturbed in her eifotts for the re-establishment of a maritime peace. " LE DUC DE BASSANO." " Gumbinnen, June 9.1." By the Treaty with Austria, the latter is to fur nish 30, - 000 men to France. The integrity of the Turkish Territories in Europe is guaranteed, and the principles of the Treaty of Utrecht are recognized. • FREEDOM OF DISCUSSION AND 7'llE LIDERTI OF THE PRESS. Yoiterday, there was a most respectable and nu-' merous Meeting of the Friends to the Liberty of the Press and Freedom of Di.cussion, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, pursuant to public advertisement, to receive Mr. William Cobbett, on the termination 'of his imprisonment of two years in the gaol of Newgate, for publishing an article on the subject of Military Flogging. About five o'clock Mr. Cobbett entered the Great Room, attended by Sir Francis Burdett, Major Cartwright, Colonel Bosville, Ma jor James, Aldermen Wood and Goodbehere, Mr., Waithman, Mr. Brookes, Mr. Favel, Mr. Har, T . vey, Mr. Fawkes, Mr. Graves, Mr. Hardy, Sir W.. Rawlins, and many other respectable Gentlemen, preceded by the Stewards. Immediately . upon Mr. Cobbett entering the room, he was greeted with the most enthusiastic demonstrations of joy and con gratulation, which continued for several minutes after he had taken his scat on the right of the worthy Chairman, Sir Francis Burdett. An excellent din ner was then served in very good order. After the removal of the cloth, the Chairman gave the following toast, which was drank with approbation. The Prince Regent—may he c.,11 tw mind the declaritinit of the Prince of " that the Crown is held in nut fur the lienet4 of the People I" The CHAIRMAN then gave, The Pcopit S of all P:mer which was drank K i th voat applause from all part; of the room.—Music—The Air, " Liberty Hall." A Free Pr oil l Fret. was then proposed, and drink with general approba tion. The next toast was, Our •.. • e . e : , n the r:•le:te of Ihnt able Ad- Part , stmeillir% Urfurnt. 3141 zeokus of the S •tr.ll %V I LI.I A I CO It It Err ; which was drank with three times three, amidst the universal cheerio,' the company. Mr. Comma then rose to address the assembly. The app: tme immediately upon Mr. C. intimating his intention of speaking, was so great as to oblige I him to wait serval minutes before silence could bu t obtaiwed. At length Mr. Cobbett proceeded as fol. • lows t--4;elitlemon, unused as I am to speak in pub- lie, I should have almost contented septet(' with re turning you • y si:teere and grateful thanks for this warm expression of our apprnhation of those prin.' . ciples, for advocating which I have suffered so vigour ously ; but, Gentlemen, it would seism that after being so severely punished, I am still to be accused of bad actions. This minting, on my return from the country, the Nen simper called the nmes, which' I now hold in my hand, was delivered to me, and t in this Paper I am charged with the most gross mis. • conduct. Since I came into this room, a Handbill, !which You have all seen, has been industriously cir related., with an intention to injure me. Altai Suffer ling two years imprisonment in a felon's gaol after I paying a fine of a th ousa nd pounds t o the Ki ng; and after entering into sureties in five thousand 'pounds to keep the peace for seven years, surely they might have alloned me to receive your congra tulations, and to have spared attacking me for this one., Iday. Tlw source of these attacks all of you are ac.' ! quainted with, and I need not ask you to reflect, even fora moment, to enable you to censure them—f 4p p/ause.l--Ahent ten years ago, 1 had the bohlue:s, I say, boldness, Gentlemen, for it was very bold to comment on the conduct of that man who now sits in the Chair, and to use harsh 'expressions to nards him. I have since discovered that I Wil, wrong, and have acknowledged my error. Where is the man who at some time or other has not done wrong? Our opinions are the result of reflection, observation, and discussion, and these opinions are produced and settled by time. I have candidly con fessed, that I have done wrong ; hut, Gentlemen, r have 1 changed my opinion for interest ? No alter ation of sentiment cau be charged against any man as a demerit, unless k proceeds fyom some interested motive lurking in his breast.—[Loud cries of " No,. no /1 Indeed, Gentlemen, you are right, for you ne ver will suspect me of changing my opinion of the Hon. Baronet for interest !—[ Long continued applause." ,No man, I ism certain, can deny , that In changing my opinion as to the lion. Bart.'s political principles, I did not consult my interest. A Bill I have noticed, which has beer circulated respecting me, pretty generally ; most of you have probably seen, and many read its contents. A. great steal of trouble has been used in circulating' this, paper, and who knows, Gentleiseie, - "but It is all at our expense ! [Jingo ) bran !3 how enraged fault they be to see me here w i t h the Honourable Baronet! Gentle men; • 1 come not to support the man, b u t the pH's!• eftple-.-it is the p r i nc i p l e to w hi c h we ill hold fast [Great applause.] Referring, Gentlemen( to the ortkle in the Ti mes N ewspaper, l so l em nly declare the whole, in s o f ar as it c h arges me with slavish of corrupt motives, t o b e a ti ssu e of falsehoods! —p rat . ° n—Gent!emen, it is 'true that hefere I was sent to p r i son , I (lid send a notice to the , Regittcr, and which was aisn to have been inserted in the Morning Papers, intimating . my intention of causing to publish it any more. It wag not because I re potted of what I bad den., but because I would not dig grace the Press by lowering the toue of the Register —[Applause.]—Now, Gentlemen, I will explainthis business to you :—Mr. Finnerty was with me at Botley (which is seventy miles from London), on the Wednesday preceding. 1 beg you to keep the dates in mind. It was sent off on that day ; after which, I and Mr. Finnerty consulted, and we thought ! it would he better not to publish such a declaration at that time, as it might be held an abaudonment of the cause ; but that it would be more prudent to wait, at least, till tTnterice was pronnunced on me by the King's Retch ; and Mr. l' innerly actually ! set off that night in a post-chaise to London, -to prevent its publicalieee—These circumstances ran (be vouched by that Gehtlentait. So much for this accusation !--[Great approbation.] 1 As lamon my legs, and see many Gentlemen here I from the country, -1 shall state some circumstances !respecting the nature of the punishment inflicted on me, which I bed not at first hatended. My impri sonment was for two years ; hut this was not mere confinement in a house, it was with the most degraded felons, from whose society l could not escape, unless on payment of an enormous ransom. On the State Side, Where I was first taken, the yard is about thirty-6ve feet one way, and twenty-five the other. On each side there are a number of rooms, which not oily appear, but are in reality cells. Some of these convert as many as live beds, in each of which may ie put as man, as it would hold. This prison is uo: confined to persons guilty of libels, but there are felons, swindlers, and others convicted of urine ' tura: ci imps. Here also, was to be found Aslett; end from the room where Major Cartwright found me, a man was transported the next day, and where this man lodged was to be my apartment. Ilad I not, therefore, redeemed myself from this dreadful association by my pnise, I se•eild have remniued for too years locked np with the most depraved wretches. It is not therefore to a bed of roses that a man is acid when.lie is committed to Newgate by Govern pent! And now, Gliittlemen, having gone so far, iet:me say a faw words in favour of Mr. Eaton. Ile was pronounced guilty of a and is to suffer twenty-two months intrisonment, and stand mire in the pillory ; although a man, who was cou,victed of an attempt to commit an unnatural crime, Was or ekred to he imprisoned twelvemonths, and stand once is the pillory. I mention this that your attention may be attracted to the case of Mr. Eaton. Gentlemen, I have now done. 1 thank you for your liberal ex pression of kindness, and the approbation you evince of my public conduct. If I wanted a stimulant, I should find it in that gratitude which I feel for the honour you have done me this day !—[Loud and re iterated applause.] The Cnetumem then proposed the following, which was received and drank with the most lively expressions of respect : The Memory of William Prynn, a ho, after being punished as a Seditious Libeller, for esposing the Corruption of the Cour , lived to bring his Persecutor and unjust Judge to the Block. The following was also drank is the same man ner: -- Mr. I)rakard, and the other Victims of Er-Officio Infor mations. Mr % Diplom was then solicited to sing a Song, when he gave the following, written for the occa sion : LIBERTY OF THE PRESS AND FREE DISCUSSION. Discunion is the life of truth, And Reason's hest support ; And honest Sense, howe'er uncouth, Will reach the proudest Court, Opinion, quick as light, can dy. hen Freedom is our hue and cry. Blest Freedom ! of this boasted land The cultivated root; Thro' thee, with honest heart and hand, We reap the sweetest fruit. Opinion, quick , &c. &c. 111. Corruption, for a time, may rise, And darken Reason's light; But Free Di.elmion, strong and wise, Will stop it in its Right. Opinion, &c. &c. Iv. The Lash, more cruel than the Rack, Which Tyrants call their own, No More shall mark the Soldier's back, And break his spirit down. Dix•ue>ioo a ill conviction It / prge, And By tto Err rend the knotted scourge. V. For who, that ever heard of foe, fly slid, valour storocd, Could heir to see that valour show A frame by eats deform'd ? Diacusbion will conviction urge, And Buttorrr, &c. A Friend to good Order and Discipline; but an Enemy, from experience, to Flogging and Degradation. Mr. GRAVES then rose, and addressed the comm.. ay. Ile was about to propose a toast to which he was sure, so•far from hating any objection to drink, they would jolts him •in hearty concurrence. Ile would not detain them hy , making observations when. none were required. Ile would content himself with stating; that be was about to propose the health of the man who was just now so admirably described by Mr. Cobbett. [Applause.j—Mr..c raves then gave the following : • , May the Servants of the People be prevented from becoming their Mask, by that Radical Reform, Pr•Pcned by that arm i Opposer of Uodelined Privilege —Sir rHANCIS • RIURDF.Tir t Immediately. on the announcenreat of . this toast, I there was a most unbounded mark of approbatims, many of the company waving their hats itiAd haudkwi chiefs for several minutes. • Sir Fnemcis Buiterre then rose, amidst the uni. versa! cheers of the company, and delivered his sen. timents nearly in the foll ow i ng te rms: — - Gentlemen, It falls to my l o t ver y o ft en t o a dd ress the 'Assembly alluded to in the last toast, by the Gen. tleman who has done me the honour to think my health. it is, indeed, too true, that those who ought !to be the servants of the people, freqereety erect themselvts into their masters. 'Sills sort of s cene f cc figh Life belovvSta irs,"l have not ietel very freqeeot ly, but I never did or will witness such an exlsibidon without expressing my sentiments against that shame. ; less usurritioe of powerand autherity,which pretends that the rights of Englisemen are requisite to the into. rest s oltlef Crown. Gentlemen, we meet tills day au occasion, wherein it is particuterly grateful to i • congratulete 114 Gentleman, whose ab i litie s a nt i whose pen is too powerful an instrument not to have its weight end its influence upon the public mied and it is imeossible to reflect, without recollectie: how much the great cause of freedom has been hem feted by the Imidalee, exertious of this Gentleman.- I am confident lima every Englishman would rather reward him with a civic crown, in consideration of the sufferings which lie hr., I will not soy ;I:needle edlv, but so Meritoriously, undergone. Lskifterte.l Au allusion was made in the song to this leuasksi laud ; but, Gentlemen, I hope this /mediae land will soon be put upncc a better footing. The inurie i diate abroga len of that system which has trampled ; (you us so many years, is more than we can expect. [Hear, hear !] If, however, things arc ete altered the honest Englishman will soon express an opinion which will shake corruption to its very basis! one of two things must happen. [Long continued pal:adj , , , • s. do not know whether env tiling will hap. pen from the Report of the Secret Committee which is made this day, ,or whether we shall see any more of those prolific monsters, which frequently issse from green Bags and srated Boxes. It seems that there is something wonderful in those:roceedings— it would appear that it requires a team of horses to drag out this great secret.—[A laugh.]—The great. I est enemy to free discussion is what is technically Icalled an ex-officio Information, contrary to law, and contrary to common sense, to put every man they please into Prison, under all the anxiety . and ! expense of a trial. They have daringly and uncoil. stitutionally assumed this illegal power, and may • rein any man, if ewer so innoeent, - and not even t bring him to trial ! I recollect reading of a King, I believe King James, who, when informed that he bad the. nomination of the Bishops and the Judges, , declared he would have such in: and such Gospel ; as he pleased.—[ii laugh.3—Our forefathers had the good sense to guard, against this innovation; and to say, that an Englishman's life and property should ue taken by the Country alone, and they took great care to chuse such men es would maintain and protect this right.—[Grout applause.]=As things were now arranged, both with respectto the King's Attorney. General and the Master-of the Crown Office, it would be better if persons should be subject to be overpower ed by a direct exercise of power, than undergo this sys. ! tem of oppression under't he forms of law. ril , ,plause.l The defence of those who so acteals very contempti ‘ ble. They go to Sir Wm. Beeceeroec, who was once considered a Court tool, or la%vyler, but has since written doctrines which are termed jacebinical. lie lied attempted to justify the Wantons system of . filing Ex-qtfisee leformations, by stating, that " in those eases, where tise crime is of that nature that • the esistenee of the• Executive Power would be at stake, unless such a proceeding be adopted, the wisdom of the law has provided that the I Attorney - General shall file an Er-officio In. ' formation to prevent the datiger. But, Gentle ' men, I know that the wisdom of the law has provided that thq shall not so act! The pretext upon which they ground their conduct, is too con. temptible to need any further remark. To be able to commit injury, and to he able to stifle complaints, is dreadful indeed to the oppressed. [bola amid ?nations.] lucked, Gentlemen, I should wish far no other test to judge the state of freedom by,. ha any country, than to know the state of its discussion. The mode of stifling discussion seems to he a refine ment upon the worst of cruelty I I have read of tyrants of matey descriptions :—One had an etisine made of brass, in the shape of a bull, a n d when it was heated, the unhappy victim enclosed in it was sure to roar, which was very pleasing to the tyrant, as he liked to hear it ! Another had a bed of iron, an which an offender was stretched : if 'lie was 100 short, he was stretched out to the full extent of the bed ; if too long, his legs were cut oil to tit it ! So the enemies to free discussion attempt t , compel every , man to think with them !—[../eplause.] A tem rdi ties and barbarity in thk enlightened age are carried further than even in the time of Dionysius. Eviry man must admit, that.sucbet state of things ought to be immediately abolished. Mr. Cobbett' has truly . stated, that he had constitiitiotiallg a right to express his opinion upon any pubic topic, and in the just ex ercise ofthat hestheught proper to blame , nut. • Irtic found that' lid hdd reason •to change his opinion, it was a duty incumbent'. on him to avow such a fact. I • perfectly agree with Mr. Cobbett, that he has a right to' deliver his opinion upon every man, and every mettinrei as he thinks proper ; and there is no aloubt but that Geo. Amen will continue so to do, with the great-abilities of which he is so eminently possessed.—lle as is but the plain English demand, ," Muir Stage and'nei Natio . It was that regard to frektohs and_ the free principles - ef tottimon taw, which ,decided 'that no • 'Oates person or liberty should be touched e and at one .period a law existed 'to the effect, that ...hoover 'could pay with his . purse, should bee excused in his person. In - - the case or. Mr. Cobbett, both modes had been ,resorted It is in vain to search for precedents for such tows duct, unless, indeed., we go back to the C ourt of Star Chamber; and it is %veil kuown that that Court rem. tlered itself infamous on account of the number or' ex officio informations on e hick tteey acted. [Jpe ,/cruse.] .If cur Courts should ever act on such a they .Will•eloso lose all claim to our re. street.. While the' laws are adMinistered in the spi rit of the Constitution they will gain favour and re. epeet ; but it will be the duty of every man to hold there up to contempt, when they become the tools of oppressors. All we want is freedom of discussion— Joith•litecur checks,.which the law of the land has pro ; freedele: of dlicussion is, in every country, : . . • • ' . r 4 T) ..1 ,( • 0,,,