The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-08-13 00:00:00, page 1

I will not recall now the hundreds of times, that
I and other members have risen on this fubjeft against
the mioifter, whose most assiduous employment was of
diffufing, in its greatest extent, the corrupt influence
of the crown, to maintain and perpetuate this unjust
inequality in parliamentary representation ; how many
times have we not shewn, if fufficient care were not
taken, that this beautiful fabrick, which is the admi
ration of the whole world, this noble and elegant struc
ture, that time seems to refped, will crumble away
when we least expert it.
All our representations were vain, all our efforts
fruitlefs ; but, thanks to God, the voice of the peo
ple has finally prevailed; we have obtained ministers,
whose views and designs uniting with those of the peo
ple, tend diredly and invariably to the reform of the
errors and abuses that have crept into the conflituti
on; and I have the inexpressible fatisfaHion of feeing
the' spirit of unanimity diffufed on all sides, uniting
every one, animating every one, and extending its in
fluence even to this house, fa that this propitious day
is the brightest that can shine, since it is favourable to
the great question that I intend to propose. The mi
nisters have declared the virtuous resolution they have
taken, of supporting the government of the king, by
methods more honourable and permanent than those
of corruption, and the nation has the fulleft confi
dence in the declarations of these men, who have in
variably proved themselves to be the friends of liber
ty,and the zealous partizans of the system of equal re
presentation.
It would, without doubt, be fuperfluous, to prove
that the form of our constitution has undergone several
essential alterations, whose pernicious effeas, influenc
ing the commons, have insensibly given to public busi
ness, a direction quite different from the intentions of
the framers of the constitution ; among these alterati
ons it fuffices me to mention, those that relate to the
representation of the commons of Great-Britain ; which
cannot be done, but by comparing the Rate of parlia
mentary ieprefentation now, with its primitive infti
tutipn.
LONDO N.
WOUSE of COMMONS, Tuesday, May 7, 1782.
AGREEABLE to the order of theday, and previous
notice given on the Friday before, Mr. Wm. Pitt
made the great POPULAR MOTION, so long spoken
of; in the fate of which the nation in general appear
ed to be so interefird, that the house and all the avenues
leading to it were crowded by two o'clock. We have
not been able to obtain the particulars that passed on
this great occasion ; however, we will give an abftraß
of the debates of this memorable day, as it makes an
epocha in the present administration, which, acording
to the parliamentary phrase, were for the firfl time in
the minority ; the queflion was to procure a more equal
representation in the parliament of Great Britain.
" The representation of the commons of Great-Brit
ain in parliament assembled, is," fays Mr. Wm. Pitt,
« an object of such an important nature, that it has
at all times engaged the serious attention of the most
enlightened men, who have pointed out so many capi
tal defers, that they have not hesitated to fay, it
would one day be the deftrudion of the constitution
itfelf.
This beautiful constitution, which has! excited the
envy of all the nations of the earth ; who were astonish
ed to perceive by its form, that the people had such a
principal share in it, is flrangely departed from its
original purity, in proportion as the representatives
have discontinued, beyond a certain point, their con
neftion with the people: it was the essence of the con
stitution, that the people, through their representa
tives, might have a share in the government; and in
order that this representation might secure them the
right that the constitution gave them, it was intended,
that it should be easy, equal and compleat ; at what
epocha were these excellent regulations eluded? At
that, when the representatives, discontinuing their con
neaions with the people, became dependent on the
grown, or Ari ftocratick branch : to reinstate things
upon their original footing, is not an innovation, it
is recovering what we have loft—a constitution, whose
loss we regret.
My intention is not at this time of faying what are
the means of attaining this end, of deciding which are
the best of those that have been offered; I confine my
felf to propose that an enquiry may be instituted by
such men as the house in its wisdom shall think the
most capable to examine into this matter; afterwards
in pursuance of their report, such measures may be
taken as shall appear to tend most direßly and efficaci
eufl, to restore to the parliament an equal representa
tion of the people.
If I do not mention the methods cf re-eflablifhing
this equality, I ought not to be equally silent upon
^ @/@p^^^>4^ ^ ^<^.
^^i^ @N ^O <5^Q/@ <C\^^^^^ C_7
TUESDAY
VOI, XIA
GENERAL ADVERTISER.
Published EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY and SATURDAY.—Price Six-Pence.
Who is ignorant that among the boroughs who eleft
members of parliament, members are absolutely go
verned by the treasury board, others are wholly at it's
disposal? It is necessary to flrain one's reflection to
perceive that every borough which is in either of these
cases, is deflitue of such characters as con ftitute the
right of being represented, that they can have no con
cern in the general interest of the country, and abso
lutely no intereflthat it is necessary to confide to the
care of any member in tne house of commons.
If in some borougs the influence of the treasury
board meet with opposition, it is never on the part of
the electors, but on that of some powerful man who
claims as an hereditary property, a right which can
belong but to the electors; they then weigh the pre
tentions of the treasury board, and those of the great
man, but the intereft* and the rights of the eleßors
are the last thing coufidered; they are looked upon as
nothing! can it be laid that there is any thing in these
scandalous choifes that referable what was intended by
the representation of the people.
There are other boroughs which have actually no
exiflance but in the cyftom of naming members of par
liament ; they have neither property, inhabitants, or
commerce; scarcely can a single man befound who has
a legal right to vote; we fee but the fives of the rich
man who owns the hr -ough, and who, in fad, is the
perfoß who cames t.n representatives: I ask again, if
there is any thing in this manner of proceeding like
real representation ?
There is another class of boroughs, and even of
small towns, who pretend to the right of felling their
votes to the highest bidder, and what makes them in
sist on this right more firenuoufly, is that it constitutes
all their property ; they have not any means of fub
fiflance under Heaven but the price they receive for
their vot*s! influenced by such motives, can we be
lieve the inhabitants of these borougs and towns, when
they give their votes, consult very scrupulously t'e
interests oftheir country ? No, they vote for the high
est bidder: they know no other configuration ; they ar?
more properly the slaves of the nabob of Arcat, or of
the raid; of Tanjour, than English fubjeft*. their
jurifdiaion would be much more naturally placed in
the Carnatic, than in the bosom us our empire; we
know, besides, that by this melans the nabob of Arcat
has really at this time seven or eight members in this
house at his disposal! If we continue of addmitting
thus in the national councils a foreign influence, I do
not fee why the example of the nabob of Arcat may
not be imitated by our natural enemies, who may form
a party in the house, to betray us under the masque
and character of members of parliament."
After having mentioned many other circumflances
(less striking) in which, according to the custom ob
served in parliamentary representations, it appeared
that the people were fallacioufly represented, Mr. Wm.
Pitt finished, by making in form, the motion that we
have already mentioned.
It was seconded by Mr. alderman Sawbridge, who
made some additional observations.
Mr. Powis was the firft who rose in opposition to it;
who decla ed, passionately, he looked upon this moti
on as a dab to the constitution, which has been so glo
riously supported during so many ages, without being
attacked —" Is this truly the proper time of amusing
ourselves with contemplating this august edifice; this
ancient and refpedable master-piece of our glorious
fore-fathers, for the purpose of finding chimerical
faults; eonfine yourselves to the meansof making your
selves respectable by sea and land, of restoring the glo
ry of the nation; your speculations of reformation
will not furnifh you a single sloop of war, a company
of soldiers, mor the appearance of an ally, much less a
peace; the most serious object of your deliberations
ought to be, to restore to us the buffings or peace, af
terwards you may amuse yourselves at your ease, with
all the reveries of oeronomifts; they have not made the
fortune of people elsewhere, and it is to be doubted if
they do here."
Mr. Thomas Pitt, asked a thousand pardons of Mr.
William Pitt, that being of the fame name, he was not
of the fame opinion, and represented to the last that
his motion would cause an universal alarm over the
kingdom.
The honourable Charles Fox, endeavoured to en
courage the ^economical party, by Seconding with all
his wonted eloquence that 0: Mr. Pitt, of which he
h^d given new proofs on this occasion; but there is a
member we forefee will give him a great deal of trou
ble; a member, who under the late administration was
not in a fifuation of displaying with so much eclat as
he now does the great talents of which he gives proofs
those which evince the necessity of this re-establishment;
what I am now going to fay, every body knows, but
when a motion is made, the reasons for it ought to be
adduced.
O R, THE
THE
W AS ^ ft ! n possession of the Subferiber,
VV living in X ? ce St ^q^t^en Third and Fourth
Streets, Philadelphia, a DROWN MALE, four year#
ole.; (aid mare belonged to doctor Allison, junior, de
ceased, the executors or achnbiHritors of the deccafei
are dafired to come and fetch h^r aw-y and py he
charges, othnwife sh: will be fold by the fifu^/Vf
nx" month, at the Ceffee-houfe at 3 c'clock in the as
teinoon, by
PETER COVENHOVEN
JA 3^
AN, at Affor-ment cf
fuperfine clothe,
Noabatu and Pontivy li
nens,
Royal ditto,
Gulix Holland,
Flander's Sheeting,
Ravens Dock,
oz"? h rif,,
3-4, 7-8 and yard wjdeCot
ton and I nen Checks,
Calicoes and Chintzy
Cambrirks i rnd Lawns,
LaAU Handkerchiefs and
Aprons,
Linen Handkerchiefs,
Gnghanu,
Whte anJ obve J'a,*,
Pion, footed and Grip'd
Dimities,
Corduroys,
Mr. Rigby, ri d cut also against innovations of all
kinds : (peculations, and chimeras, fynonimous words,
all these fine dreams would vanish. if we attempted to
put them in pradice.•
Before these last members spoke, fir Horace Mara
had had the address of reserving a resource for the op
position in case the ©economical party Ihould appear
to befuperior, and he had, following the example of
the old administration, called the order of the day for
to get rid of a question whose fate was uncertain.
Upon putting fir Horace Man's question, it appear
ed there was 141 for it, 101 against, cenfequently Mr#
W. Fitt's motion was loft by a majority of 4'o.
Mordecai Lewis, & Co.
Have for SALE at their STOPE in Second Street
near Smucc Street, a large Assortment of MERCh!
ANDIZE, imported in the Favours, §. H^na and
N^ucb, and by other v^ff s lately arrived v j z
@%<^^^.^)&¥o^^@©
CITY AUCTION.
On Friday. Next,
At NIN E o'clock in the MORNING,
Will begin the SALE, as usual,
Of □ VARIETY of
MERCHANDIZ E,
Houfhold Goods, Kitchen Furniture
AND
WEARING APPAREL, &e.
JOHN BAYARD, Au&ioncer.
Mr. Rofewarne was of the fame opinion, and f, >e
wih warmth against all innovations in conkfutiouf
masters. We have fays be, the beh cf conHicun< ns,
to alter it would be facriledge, the met sacred of ur
duties is of transmitting it to our posterity, such as we
received from our ancestors
Frederick Shinckle,
SKINDRESSER,
^^AKES thia m^lmdto acquaint the Public in gene,
a ral, knd his fo^m :r Cuftomfr n particular, that
be carries on the hufinefs o f Skindreffing again, as usual
in Market-street, between Third and Fourth-ftieets!
nearly oppose the sign of the King of Prussia ; wh^re
may be had Buckfkns, Leather Breeches, G oves &c.
at as moderate prices as the times will permit.'
every day. It is the lord advocate o' Scotland, of
whom we speak: this magistrate to^k t is opportuni
ty of giving' fomeleffons on modefly to this new fecre^
tary of state: colonel Munay, declared agamft %
motion. &c.
And 30 H g(heitGs of Virginia TOBACCO.
AUGU3 T 13, vß>
Cambists,
Durantr,
''r.? labors, Plumes,
rioters, Silks; & c . neat
ly assorted in Trunks.
Table Cloths and Napkins
in sets,
Di per fcr Table Cloth#.
Bd-ticks,
Sewing Silks,
I Ladies white Silk Stott,
I mgs,
I Black Satti,,
I Brocaded Tebine,
tTible Carpets,
I Red Lead for potters use.
IPig L-ad;
I B'bca Tea,
I Hyron ditto,
I With a variety of other
Igoods
[NUMB. 923.