The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-04-21 00:00:00

Might pearls@ it in the Conlitiittee, Mit he *bald
meet him candidly and dismiss the nature of his
remedy. With respect to the Heti. Gentleman
who spoke last, and who hid not only a belief in,
but a knowledge of abuses, his connexion with a
former Administration might have afforded him
the means of arriving at that knowledge, but he
(Mr. P.) thought it rather stranger that he should
never have professed it until lie did not re-
collect that that Him. Gentleman came forward,
when that Ministry was mewled of taiproper inter-
ference in the election for Southainptosi„ to state
his knowledge and informations upon the subject
of the corruptions of Government.
Mr. Lessee, in explanation, denied he had re-
ceived his information from any confidential com-
munication whatever.
Mr. WHITBREAD said, that mach of what he
had intended to observe on had been remlered un-
necessary, by what hail fallen just now from the
Right Honourable Gentlitantin opposite. Ile de-
clared he felt happy at the offer so unexpectedly
made of supporting the Noble Lord in the intro-
duction of a clause for cutting up the sale olives
in that House, hut could not but remark at the
mime time, dint if lie was so ready to call on his
Honourable Friend (Mr. Crerry) for one net of
calea, he hoped he would be ready, informed a.l
he was on the subject, to furdiah the !biome
with another. It was unfair to say his Ho-
nourable Friend had stated his information
war confidential ; he had nut said so, he had stated
what was notorious to all the world. He Innis( If
bad newer held any oifieidl situation, he had re-
ceived nu confidential information, and yet did unit
he know the fact. did not the Right Honourable
Gentleman himself know it? was not every Mem-
ber of that House acquainted with it ? Such a
taunt then was equally applicable to every 311A11 of
them. Rut in fact the question had been °Reif
agitated in that tenure, whenever the question of
Parliamentary Re%rrn was agitated. In the hid=
nese of the Hampshire contest, iudated, thequestioit
was simply whether a Secretary of the .Transury
had interfered in the election, as such, or Irhether
he was for that reason to be precluded in exer-
cising his privilege as a freeholder in any county
in the kingdom ; and if the Right I lonourable
Gentleman upon that occasion found himself
in a minority, he might, therefore, allow him-
self to be in the wrong, upon the same prin-
ciple that he so strenuously and constantly con-
tended, that he (Mr. Whitbread) was in term,, he-
cause he often found himself in a minority also.—
When minor offences, where the sale of places in
the various departments were to be made ini-rle-
rneanours, why not include that great and r.oheal
evil, the sale of seats in that !louse, an evil of such
magnitude and notoriety in the catalogue ? Why
not turn to his Rt. Hon. Friend. the Noble Lord,

who sat on hi• right hand, if he wished for, or
needed, information on the. subject, and who was
so well calculated to instruct him, when the Irish

Parliainent, upon occasion of the Union, had taken
a million and • half out of the pockets of their
country us a recompense for seats which had been
extinguished by that measure; dettionstrstiug to •
the world that the returns for such places were not
to be considered as the fair result of local or fit-
mily Influence, but the subject of pecuniary
barter and gain. He therefore hailed with joy
the acceptance by the Right Hon. Gentleman,
of the offer made by the Noble Lord, of introducing
a clause prohibiting the solo of seats in that House ;
and honed iiiieerelyeiest eallething effectual would
at length be done, to pint a stop to a practice which,
if not ended, would meet mouredly rod us. With
respect to the exeeptiun txmtained in the present
Bill of the Sale of 01111ese by those in Judicial Situ-
stains, he was free to say. diets is his opinion, jus-
tice was at no period more purely administered than
in the present tunes, and that he did nut believe the
abolition of the practice could er would produce
any benefit in that respect; but, notwithstinid-
hig. he had no doubt but that the very idea
of such practice ought not to be allowed, and,
whatever the expense attending the abolition of it
idea be, it ought to be adopted for the purpose
platting an end to it, sud leaving no room to'
11111,61 on the subject. There was one opinion asserted
by his Hon. Friend, to the extent of which he could
not give his assent, viz. that a dissolution of Par-
liament was nothing but en appeal to the Treasury,
instead of en appeal to the people—that it was so,
to a very great degree. he admitted, still, howeier,
the voice of the people was, he believed, °Reit
bird upon such appeals ; mid he verily believed
that upon that made to them upon the occasion of
the late dissolution, that voice would have bad a
proper effect, if the people had not been driven mad
fir the arts and &bowie. practised upon them.
hat the influence of the Treasury preponderated,
there could he no doubt, and if such influence
were thrown out altogether, much good would be
effected, and the bill with such a clause in it,
would prove the restoration of the constitution.
Mr. W. WYNNE said, that though this was not
the time to argue the clauses of the bill, yet he
could not hut observe that the pro/lion against
the male of ttffices in the Law Departinsins should
not be included in the present bill, &halm adjust-
ment of the remuneration. which undoubtedly
must be made on the abolition, was a subject of
great importance, and attiog for exinbetantive mew
cure in itself, whereas introdecing it now. would,
in his opinion, rather tend to cheque the pt ogress of
a measure they had all ea mach at heart. With
respect to the clause in the Bill, dismissing
from their' eiteatimea. such at obteioed them
through the medittm of esreupt peuctices, how-
ever Innocent of the existence of the means, he
reed by ho mamba approve of it, as a principle
equally contrary to jointer and humanity.
Mr. HANSI explained, that- ow* a measure did •
not conic rercennsended MIS the Committee upon
Eton India Affairs, but Weenenpleritnre tale laid down
' intheir regultttons. I a •
Mr. H.Titoluirzon speed in the propriety of in-
cluding the porchseerelemots in that House among
the offences of the Bill, • tt 'ego kl be unfair to ia-
filet a punishment 111,41011 minor offences, and at the
same bear to pass over those of. greeter turpitude
and vaixchief. The nature sod extent of the re- j
inedy itself could be best considered when the
clause for that purpose woe timieght in.
The Bill was then reed, er tenon& time, and or-
dered to be committed to a 'Cianlellittee of the
whole HOOPS 4111 Friday se'tutight.'.'..4.;
.zatittmAli 4,4>rwih, • •
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