The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-03-19 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

A Message from the Lords intimated, that their
Lordstnps hid agreed to the Irish Tobacco Bill, the
lt.,vnl Marine Mutiny Bill, the Sierra Leone Bill,
And the l 'Limes Police Bill.

Some Petitions were presented from Tanners,
against the Oak Ba►k Bill, which were ordered to
be referred to the Committee upon that Bill.
Colonel STANLEY gave notice. that tomorrow
he would move for leave to bring in a Bill to reign.
late the Woollen Manufadurers, in several counties.
The A DVOCATE-GENERA Lime notice, that
he would to-morrow move for leave to bring in a

Ital to regulate the payment of Seamen's Prize•
- -

Mosey.
Lord Stapfo►d presented at the. Bar of the
House, the Report from the Colchester Committee,
stating, that they had determinedthat Robert Thorn-
ton, Esq. is duly eleEted a Burgess to serve in Par-
liament for the borough of Colchester, and that the
Petition is not frivolous or vexatious; and that

Wllli irn Tufnell, Esq. is duly eleCied, and that the
Petition, as far as respeCts Mr. 'rulnell, is frivolous

and vexatious.
Mr. Vansittart brought np a special Report irons
the Shrewsbury Elefliwi Committee, swine the
non-attendance of Mr. Wyndham Quin, on, account
of had health. Thi► being tensed by Mr. Taggart.
a medical gentleman, Mr. Quin was excused for
his non-atten lance this day; and, on the motion of

Mr. VANS! rfAR the'rgid Cnmmittee were em-

powered to adjourn until Saturday next.
A person from the Commiuioners of Inquiry in
Ireland presented their Fifth Repot upon fees, per-
quisites, and emoluments, of certain offic.s.—Or-
dered to lie cn the Table. and to he printed.
A person from the office of the Chief Secretary. in
Ireland, presented an Accaunt of the Sums levied
by Grand Juries in Ireland. Ordered to lie ou the
table, and to be printed.

ROMAN CATH•O.IC OFFICERS' BILL.
Lord HOWICK ruse and addressed the Heine
as toUmrs

" Sir, 1 some time ago had the honour to intro- ,
duce into this Ilnu,e, a Bill for authorising the ad-
mission of certain Religious Sects into the Army
and Navy, and to entitle Roman Catholics, amongst
others. to hold Commissions therein, which Bill
stands in the orders of to-marrow lor a second read-
ing. I have already been wider the necessity, on
account of certain circumstances, twice to propos'
to the II use the po.tponement of that Bill ; and I
have now to state to the House, that, on account of
these same circumstances, I shall not be prepared to
proceed to the second reading to-morrow, as I fully
intended. My not being able to name any pat dm-
ler day for the (milkr privet:slings in this business.
makes me think it b •tter nom to give notice, that I
I shall not to-morrow move for the second reading ;
and in consequence, that order will drop, to be her,-
after revived. as %sill be found most expedient. I
am aware, Sir, that the course which this measure
has taken, must necessarily attract much attention
and observation; and that the House will be naiu-
tally desirous to have ume explanation upon the
.. .

subjerft to which I have alluded ; but all that I can
At present say is, that I throw myself upon :he in
dulgrnce of the House (Load erreA of Hear, Hear,
fruns all quarters), as I feel. that my public duty
does not authorise me to do more. I can assure
the lituw, however, that whenever the moment
arrives, when it will be deemed proper to say
more, I shall not fail to avail myself of an oppor-
tunity of explaining all my public conduZli but under
the present circumstances, I trust 1 thAll not be
pressed furthzr upon this subjcet. I shall therefore
•
corihne my 'el to stating, that I am not yet Autho-
r:sea to say more, than that 1 shall out to-morrow
move the second reading of that Bill.'
On the motion of Lord HENIItY PETTY, the
House was ordered to be called over to-morrow.

The Irish Paper and Riper-hangings Duty Re-
gulation Bill, WAS reed a second time. and ordered
to be committed to-morrow.

WESTMINSTER ,ELECTION.

Lord 1-lENRY PET IT moved the order for
resuming the ptoceedings upon the Westminster
Lleaion Petition, and that the Witnesses win, had
already been examined, do attend.
On the order being read,
Mr. SHERlDAtsirose and said—" As I am the
individual against whom this Petition bas been
presented by Mr. Paull, I beg leave to state, that
as the whole of the Evidence which has been heard
at the Bar, is now in the hands of every Gentleman
in this House, to them I commit the whole of the
question. I have no inclination to intrude upon
Their patience, by bearing further testimony, to repel
the extraordinary charge which bas been mule
against me. I would think it were an insult to the
House, to endeavour to adduce stronger testimony
in my tavoer, than that which has been already !ad-
duced. A Noble Friend had moved for a Return,
shewing the time of ser vice, in the Navy, of Thos.
Weatherhead, which it was at first supposed would
have stated, with sufficient minuteness, the whole
progress and charadter of that Witness. The Re-
turn, however, accordingly presented from vie
Navy Office, was merely comprehended in one line;
which being uns.stistaaory, a further account was
afterwards moved for, to show, more particularly,
the whole time and nature of the service of this
Mr. Thom's Weatherhead. That account was
now printed, and before the House; and by it,
it appears, that initead of serving on board of
one ship, called La Prudente, Mr. Wetherlprad
has aflually been serving on board of twelve i
or thirteen ships, having only remained five or six
days on board of some of them, and two or three
months on board of others, running the gauntlet
as it were through the whole Navy; and further,
that he deserted more than four times. As to the
piece of his birth, Mr. Weatherhead has told the
Housese, sometimes .hat he was born in Newcastle,
sometimes at Morrill, and at other times in Lon-
don, as it suited his pui pose. Application was
made by him for a ceruncate at the Navy• Offices

in Order to pass as a Lieutenant; bet, instead rff
presenting proper certificates from hit airmail Cap •
tains, it appeared that he had forged them, awl than
the reason why Le was refused, ronsettion.. I
only state these taas as a sample of this Wirnes.'s
charaEter, as appears from the Re•titn madeto the
amended :notion. I wish to spare that ‘Vit nest,
and all the poor wretches who have been brought to
your Bar; although I could have wished to have
sifted this points whether or n:4 rie Witness%
who have appeared before. us, imposed upon those
who employed them?' or whether there was
any conspiracy existing, in order to tying for-
ward that charge? With this rematl: I close.
the subjea; aid I put it to the feeltugg of the
House; I do not wish. to detract Irons the
_ _

profession of the law, as I entertain the UMIAK re-
spell for the Members of tha• profession s but the
persons I mean to allude to, are eminent solicitors,
some of whom are in this Hotbe, and in my eye,

and to them I would put this question ; if a pers an
came to them and said, Will you draw up such a
charge against a Member of the House, (who would
be unworthy of being so, it subseantia ed),
they not ask that Frrson, if he knew the cliaraaers
of those who were tocrore it, and whether they them-
selves would not have taken some pain‘, in order to
see these witnesses, and inquire into their charaSers ?
It it should appear that they (the witnesses) were
men of such notorious infamy, that any Bpw-ctreet
Offices, or Gaoler at Newgate, could have given
she necessary information, would any Solicit t, of
high and respeaable charades, have consented to
make-up such a charge say, that, in the present
case, if prnper inquiries, had beets made, the eha•
saaen of these witnesses would have been found to

be snob as could not support the charge of the Peti-
tion. I acknowledge that M. Williams end Mr.
Brook had no hand in the bushiest, regarding these
witnesses, and I think Mr. Powell may stand
equally acquitted. If this be reputable pranioe,
there is no. man's charaner that may not Ise brought
into question by the rashness or unprofessional pro.
cedure of a single adviser. I could have wished
to have moved, "'that a Selesn Cominotte be ap7
pointed to examine and incloire into the circumstan-
ces of said Petition." as at might tend to 'hew
whether or not it proceeded from any conspiracy,
and whether the charader of any of the Wit-
nesse. had or had not been previously ascertained
or investigated? Although I say this would have
been a very fit course of procedure ; yet, as I find
it would tend to anticipate and interfere with the
proceedings at present in agitation. as to the Me-
rits of the Election, I shall forbear proposing it,
leaving the House to consult its own charanio and
dignity only, in any steps they may think necessary
to pursue."
Mr. M.A. TAYLOR—" When this question first
came before the House, it certainly did not assume
the serious aspen which it has taken this moment.
I have read, Sir,, with condderable Atte:ohm, the
minutes of the evidence, which have been taken at
your Bar in short hand ; and I must say, trot: I differ
from the Right Hon. Geetleinan who has just
spoken, as to the course of procedure which cught
to be adopted. I may venture to say, that a more
ti igrant conspiracy rev r before presented itself to
this House. It is not eely injurious to the charac-
ter of the House, but it is, in my opinion, anew mode
or Ai tazkiiig Mr. Grenville's BM. It is, I aver, an
Attempt to make this House a channel of injustice,
and the ve.iide of malice. On looking over the
whole business, although the House may not be of
opinion that it is a case requiring us to request His
Majesty to instruff the Attorney-General to prose-
cute criminally ; ye:. 1 submit that it is one in
which it may be necessary to punish some of the
Witnesses for gross prev 'location. It is well known
that the H use is always zealous in hearing every
thing respening the rights of individuals, that
can be offered; and such has been the case in the
present instance ; but I am still of opinion, that the
person who signed that Petition, had no reason to
be alarmed that any Witnesses had boon bribed,
otherwise he or his Solicitor must have inquired
into their charaners. The apparent motive has
been, that such a proceeding might find its way to
the hearts of men, so as to prejudge the previeu;
Petition, which is in dependence. I mast do
Mr. Paull the justice to say, that he never would
have signed the Petition, had he really inquired into,
or been informed of, the real charadlers of those
who were to support it. But those who have :Lined
for him, seem to have used unfair means, merely for
the putpose of exciting suspicion. The letter in the
curtody of Harris appears, from the evidence, to be
a forged one. 'flute has evidently been a con-
spiracy in the present instance. lteasuning upon the
prinesples of justice and morality, is nor a conspiracy
an attempt to fasten upon a man a wrong winch he
never did, a crime which he never committed ?--
fake that definition along with you, and look
at the charaner of Drake, one of the wit-
nesses. He appeared before you, he said, as
a wounded Officer, who had fought the battles
of his country. He alleged that he had been
several times wounded in the service ; by the
return which has been made, however, he never
received bin pension for any wumid he received in
the b telt ; but, that he fell from the mast head of a
vessel, and broke his leg, which was afterwards am-
putated. Nor has this Mt. Dralcs been able to
state, with truth, where he was born. Alter stating
various places in England, he afterwards says, that,
when in company with Homan, he boasted he could
driinn " ksixtbAotiatlevs4 ) Here the Hon. Member of claret, becausehewasaenr
statedlris
h-
mvarious itscousistencies in the evidence of this Wit-
nes', in which he said, there did not appear a word
of truth. " Both Drake and Weatherhead were per-
sons who ought, in my opinion, to receive your ut-
me.t censure ; and you ought even to adopt the
most rigorous measures. For my part, I 'mould
humbly submit, that a prosecution ought to be coin.
menced by the Crown, against both of them, for e
conspiracy ; but although you should nut tt.ink
peeper to punish for a conspiracy, yet surely you
will punish any man who tomes with lies and
falsehoods in his mouth to the Bar ! I may still go
further, and say, that, from the evidence of the
other Witnesses, it appears, that a conspiracy has
teen rennito; through the whole of them. ( Here
the Hon. Member again cited rations parts of the
evidence). If the House do no: think that there
is enough to entitle them to commit tar prevarica-
tion, ethould be inclined to think, that Mr. Sheri-

efdHti
oe
ul
jjeaevti:leoce
sele:plrep::
din hinn44 woad 130 Fully j0%4;51 in iningino
•
the qthstine under the cognia mew of a civil
Owe. The House, perhaps, would rather
wish that Ott. Peat' should here the advents„
f
lonb
..po
ftonni in the their
hthhee r:nlVoi poweri.4lupon
tepto:onet II
theoeraob
irleCi. nnagmAl em:i
All
ar
ni :Mae Ili te ee
Houset if I la lt
i4l:t 1•1:
can
judge of is the ineoasietency. In my opinion, t
Petition of Mr. Paull ought to be elected-el false,
scandalous, and vexatious. I say, appears from
the evidence ; end I may state that I form this oei.
nion fiom that alone, not having been in any ve,e
°ee
r" nor
ti rt
the fepeoleunli it:tarnt
lydl
di wuctiaytth.vati:tiaemt4F.Ael
te:t
ort
its ebaraaer, its privileges, its justice, and probity.
Upon these grounds, I cannot submit to pass unnee
tieed, a.Pertition that would make this House a char,
reding ol4t;iriniGn injustice, I
la; s
AEI,t ee aadeep s
it i
si initneeretsht
rises the virtue of the House of Commons. I never
will sit by. timely, an see, by a new medm and
snider false meters, the seenrity and ends of its
justice, defeated ni sapped in the very foundation.
With the leave of the i f 'List., therefore, I shall gat.
mit a Motion.. which, when agreed to, I shad follow
up with another, respeaing M . Dreke,whow peeve.'
ricatinns have been nenet eminently conspieueue."
The Hon. Gentleman then concluded with moving,
that, " The Allegations contained in the Petition of
Mr. Paull, should lee declared false, ecendeloum and
vexatious."
Lord FOLK ES CON E—•• Mr.Speakee, I at fee
fronethinking with the Hon. Gentlemen who has sent
sat down, that the evidence adduced by the Peelle
oner, is entitled to little or no credit ; I meet codese
that I see it in a very different light ; and cannot
help being surprised, is my turn, at the assertion of
th it Gentleman, as well as the m lion he has eube
ruined to the House. In tact, .Sir, I perceive
hardly any inconsistency in the chain of misleilee
adduced, and. therefore cannot divine on what
grounds the Finn. Gentlemen expect to bear tl m.
selves one in the assertion, that a conspnecy of the
darkest kind his been made against the imereet, eye.
reeler, and honour, of the Hon. Gent. concerned.
If, indeed, there was a just ground to suppose
such conspiracy existed, 1 hope I should not have
been the lest to perceive it; and from that moment
I should hive thought it my duty, not only to deal
from supporting the Petition, but also to endeavear,
in Cone 'it with every honest and upright Memb.:
of Parliament, to dote a the inconsistencies and min
representations oh the Witnesses, and thus render
the dark end detestable deign abortive. The evi-
deuce, in my opinion, has been exactly such as the
circumstances of such a case would ptrmit. The
greater part of the statement of the principal Witness,
Deeds-, reepeaed private communications with Mr.
Sheridan, and of these communications, t.iere ceuid
be no other testimony adduced. His statement,
in other respedts, was corroborated by that even of
Mr. Homan, the friend of the Right Hon. Gendo
man, as well as by that of several others, who were
admitted on all hands to be men of credit and truth.
I cannot help saying, that the charge of tamperi: g
with the witnesses, brought before the House, has
been fully substantiated by the evidence brought
against Mr. Wallace, the agent of the Right Hon.
Gentlemen. (en the evidence of elMr. Weethohead,
am not inclined to insist so mach ; though I then
it far from deserving so meth censure. ass ime have
been inclined' to bestow on it; indeed. I am of
opinion, it is highly entrobsuetive of the statement
of several other witnesses ; and the whole forms co
complete and enoneaed a chain of evidence, that I
am much surprised Gentlemen should have spoken
of it as totally undeserving of credit or attentive.
When such evidence, then, has beat adduced, is
witnesses, each corroborating the other, it is es.
tremely improper that gentlemen should not only
now their total disbelief in the truth of the alleen
tions conmined in th' Petition, but retort the chew
on the Petitioner and his friends, of conspiring tie
gether, to blast the charater and welfare et the Rt.
Hoe. Gentleman."
Mr. M.A. TAYLOR assured the Noble Lord, be
had no idea whatever of charging either Mr. Par4l
or Mr. Powell, with being engaged in the cons.
racy. hut confined the charge solely to the witness
produced at the Bet of die House.
Mr. W HITBRE A 0--." I cannot help expressing
my surprise at what the Noble Lord has advencedi
in the first part of his speech. How is it possible
that the Noble Lord, whets he reviews the evidece
laid before the Ileum. and considers the %eighty
and serious charges made against his Itig.
•
Honourable Friend. can avow to the House,
sees nu inenndetency hi the testimony of the
Witnesses produced st the bee ? lhe Noble feel
had charged the Right Honourable Gent!, inn
wish setting his agents to work, in ord r t'
prevent the appearance of the witnesses before 0
Committee. In what part even of the evidence
those equivocating, shufiltng set of men, had t;
charge been made gees; ? In no one instance h
they been able to substantiate this charge. E.
Sir• it is unnecesse.ry to go into the substance,
their depositions; let us only take a view of t.
witnesses' own description of themselves, arid I.
whole fabriek, rased upon the foundation of ea
evidence, will instantly vanish. In the eyes of nu•
of any diseriminatein, no witness who had hie, •i
will erg to give a fair and candid account of hiti•
can be entitled to any degree of credit. But the Fo'
cipal vvitnesr, Drake, has, in giving an account
himself, stated fans which are not only disproved::
the evidence of mhos, but even by his oven tee
moay in Isis subsequent examination. He descri
himself as ten a&ing Lieutenant, who had loite
leg in the Battle of Camperdown, in 1797 ; that
derived his subsisreece from several pensions, wh'
had, in consequence ot his distinguished service
been bestowed on him. The whole of this has she
been proved to be false; he was never a Lieun
went of the Navy, nor in the Battle of Camperlo
he had lost his limb in the year 1798, and
WI
pension, but one from the Greenwich chest.
sneh an evidence in the front of his battalion
testimony, let the Noble Lord set out, and
how many proselytes he will bring over to his t
Mon, that there is no conspiracy existing age
my Right Hen. Friend, nor any reason to .1.3
the assertions of men, who, even in deem
themselves, have been guilty of the most ha, e
bleach of truth and deceoc'. I em glad t