The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-05-09 00:00:00

correction of abuses; and, in addition to the oppo-
sition which they have uoifortuly given to the adop-
tion of measures, which had, in their consequences,
those effects, we have now to add, the deli-
berate and Well-considered opinion of the two

greatest Statebmeu of their day, upon these sub.
jects, so dear and so deeply interesting to the feel-
ings of every man in the country. But it is
.sufficient only that the opinions of these Noble
Lords, and their friends, should be stated, and that
they should meet with the tacit approbation of all
the thinking part of the community, by all the real
friends of the Parliamentary freedom and Conetitn-
lion of the country : In times like these, when two
active parties are pulling together, for the purpose of
throwing every thing into mansion, and obliterat-
ingevery land-mark of the Constitution; for the put'.
pose of keeping, or raising themselves into power,
without any care as to the means they employ, it be-
comes die bounden duty of every man to come for-
ward and express his decided approbation of the con-
ductof those who have only the good of their country
in view, and to promise them their active support,
in the great, important, but difficult work they
have in land—tbe restoration and preservation of
the Constitution, in all its purity, free from the
despotic doctrines of the one party, and from the li-
centious views of the other ; steering equally clear
of supporting every abuse, because it is established,
and of pulling down the whole building, because
some amendments are required. We, in short,
wish for no more, than that the words of Eat I
Gate, in the most beautiful and elegant oration
ever delivered iu Parliament, should be adopted by
every county and public body in England do
not, however," said his Lordship, " wish to con-
ceal the danger which arises from that ferment in
the public mind, which now unfortunately exists,
from those discussions, and those principles, which
threMen alike, all the legal powers of the Consti-
tution, and the privileges of Perliament. 1 wiil
never be the advocate of a wanton, improvident, and
unnecessary exercise of those powers; but it is not
against the wanton and unnecessary exercise of
those powers that a clamour is bow raised, but
against the existence of the power itself. 1
my Lords, to have my opinions distinctly under-
stood. I ever have been, said still remain, the ad-
vocate of reform ; equally of that reform which
consists in economising the expenditure of the
cou.itry, and correcting the abuses in office, as well
as of that which would remedy those defects that
have ailed, from the operation of time, in the frame
and constitution of the Parliament. I have con-
stantly been of this opinion ; and such reforms are
now, in my mind, rendered more necessary, and
which the people of England are more than ever
entitled to look furies' cousequence of the increased
state of the revenue and expenditure of the
country, as well as of other causes. But to effect
such a Reform, the course of the Constitution must
he pursued. its powers are adequate; and, by the
powers of the Constitution aloues ought it to he ef-
fected. The cl our, however, which is now
raised, is a;:iiiiist ►he very existence orthose powers
of the Conieitution, fonuded on the law and
usage of Parliament, which, if I hare not been
mistaken during the whole course of my political
life ; which, if those great statesmen, from whom
I learnt the doctrines of the Constitution, and to
whom I have hero peculiarly attached, were not
egregiously inistakeu—wereestablished for the pro-
tection of the people, autism essential to the main-
tenance of the Constitution—a Constitution, which,
with all its decay, and QII the abuses which have
crept into it, I still proimmice to be the wis,st, and
the moat conducive to freedom, and to human hap-
piness, Of any that ever was formed."
To these impressive words, we entreat the atten.
tien of the people of England ; and we can with
confidence appeal to their good sense, to determine
whether the reform of the abuses they complain of
is likely to be better done by men, who, from their
long, and extensive, and laborious experience in
public affairs—who, from their education and habits,
their stake, and conseqtience, and rank in the
country—who are upon principle convinced of the
necessity of the Constitution restoring itself by
stionseitutiourd means ?--nr whether it is likely to be
better done by men who are for the overthrow of
every thing venerable and excellent in the State;
and who, to accomplish their purposes, and get the
power of the country into their hands, have the
folly anal the baseness to tell the people of England,
that they sopped and defend the present weak,
rash, and incapable men, who are at the head of
the Government, in order that their weakness may
irritate and rouse the people, not for the reform,
but the destruction, not for the maintenance, but
the overthrow, not for the preservation, but the
utter annihilation, of that Constitution, of those
rights4and of that freedom, which was established
with the blood, upheld by the vigour, and secured
by the wisdom of our ancestors

The Toulon fleet is expected to put to sea. It
is supposed to be destined against Sicily.
ALCM/ALI) SPUR, of Eldersbe, is returned to
serve in Parliament for the Shire of Renfrew, in
the room of ‘V t.t.t an M'DOWALL, Esq.. de-
ceased.

A ktod of aental uniform ii making. to a con-
siderable extent, intended to be Hans on the day of
Sir F. Buaarrfa liberation from the Toner: one
tailor has executed an order for 500 jacket,. The
colour i. green.