The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-11-04 00:00:00

were so nomer•us, that the High Sheriff could not
get an opportunity of stating leis opinion.
Dlr. ConuaT then rose again, aud continued—
" Gentlemen, 1 don't conceive that 1 ass in the
•smallest degree out of order; but since I cannot
proceed farther with this statement. I shall only
beg leave to refer you to that manly statement of
fact*, lately published by Major Hogan. I'll
merely now add, that I wish those who do not read
such subjects,: to be informed, that we have au
absolute right to petition the King. Nothing can
stay this right. There was a time when the Kilog
prosecuted persons for addressing him ; one of the
cveuts that followed was his dethronement, and
the choosing another King, and vesting the princi-
pal power in his Parliament. The right wits
declared, claimed, asserted, cod enacted by en
Act passed in the reign of King William and
Queen Mary. The House of Lords being as-
sembled, first drew up a t:eclurution of the crimes
of King James, stating, that he had eudea-
voured to destroy the laws of this kiip4oloon, by
assuming illegal powers, suds as his rejection of the
Petition of the Bishops, and his subsequent pro-
secution of them. We know, from history, that
they afterwards came to declare abet the rights and
liberties of the Constitution should be hereafter,
and we find, almost at • the head of that list,
the right of the subject to petition. They
deinaud, and insist upon this right--
th.sv >Jr that it is by sectoring this right, mid by
never stremptipg to itiibvert it, that ' you shell
hold the crown of wont: ancestors.' Such is the
lanauage of the Constitution Raid Law Or England,
and upon that it is that I submit this address :"

TO TOE KINCS MOAT EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
The humble Address soil Pet Wort of the Nobility, Gentry,
rt.v, Frechohiess, and lobahitants of tlw coulity .d
W.., your Majesty's nowt dutiful subjects, die Nobility,
Crory, 117.•1.1»L•rs, 1114 inhibitl4M of tin' court
of titiudg-) aoproach your !flakiest) with an
"amt.:sum of our deep rvzret at the ronceatitit lutrly cu-
ter-ell into loy the C....invoulers ot• your Majesty's forces and
the Cominauder of Ib• French corers is Port uq.ll, a Cold-
11.111i011 *limb we deem ilisgrareful to your )Isp•Mty's arms,
vent), injurious to the interest of this nation, VIII still
more injurious to the interests and the gioriuks cause of
too• Mujcs:y's faithful allies, now coga‘cd is a perilous
eonflict fiir the recovery and preservation of their rights and

Mindful that at the happy period when tholie laws erre
made, by which your )lajestt,'s family sem placed upou the
throue athir lanztbno, it w me claimed, demanded, and in-
sisted upon, totem's'', assented to, and legally enacted, that
it was the right of the subject to petition the King; and
fully couriored that it is of the utmost importance to the
preservation of our libertits, that this rigid should at ■ll
tinica he freely etems4,l in all matters of public grievance,
without ettstrintiou or repi oaf, we humbly prey that yore
'Newly will Ire graciously p!,:sveil to unititittr suet au in-
quiry relative to the said Conveution, as will secure a full
alto °lwo deet•lopw,twnt of the real causes of a teansactiou,
which has 511111:111 AO fold a stuns span the honuar of our
coital ry, and loss "%dried unavailing the valour of yobs. M a-
j,sty's troops, sad the vast p.e r sacisticts of your
t. itb-
fvl, heavily LUttil MA, ■mid pat.aut inept,. And this 3111111 -
C.liloll t../ the last.re and paternal ran of :ioas Majesty we
drew the• inure twetimary at this time, because, during the
.eresitful period of the last filters years, various emerpriges
amid exicslitiots herr bttn unskrtakeii, iu which the
r of the country and the laminar ut• your 3liajtsty's arms
were cuws•rned, which have grievously failed and disap-
it:doted the lopes aiol expectations of the Galicia, and tato
loch due toquily has not Leen matte.

The Rev. Mr. HAMA scet.mhil thissnaendinent,
by siying, that lie would not do it its he did nut
euneei%e tliut riery lioi.est Englishman should
heartily l'uot•ur in it.
_ _

The'lZev. Mr. I•UULTt'.n next offered hiinsidf to
the Nieto Mr. nigh Siientl and Gentlemen,
rise fur the purjane of replyieig to some of the
otaiervaLions which
have fallen from the imlividual
who has last audressed on. In doing so I feel it
iny duty to limit myself to that plot of his +ergo-
melds whirl' are applicable to the subject fur which
we sire thus convened. dtnch stress lie. bi.eii laid
upon the iiiisever which the Corporation' of the
City of London had receives! from His Majesty.—
An endeavour has been made to ',revs, that it ore
i.ositite j 'se of au aceriescence in the object
sought by the Address presented toy the Common
Council. I contend the contrar*position ; and
fie:ing as I do, that His Mitjerty's Answer, on
that patio, was complete. explicit. atml satisfactory
—(Ne ! No ! No!/—Phis hying my opinion, I
am not bound to refer to the other lain of that
Answer, which was alone applicable to the spirit
and teudency of the City Address. In that Ad-
dress there was introduced extraneous matter,
in my mind in an ill-advised, intemperate, and
indiscreet memoir. To the Address just read,
there is, I confess, 110 such objection, in as much us
it limits its prayer to investigation, and prays fur
justice aloof% There is no call for punishment lie-
fore investigation was iiistitiited, as ue the Address
from the Citizens of London. But with that an-
swer before the country, let sue ask the necessity of
petitioning ut all ? Have we not the highest autho-
rity in the king.lnin pledged to us, tint ell inquiry
will be promptly instituted, of the causes which
led to an event i• which has disappointed the liojws
and expectations of the country ?" Could I for
narinent believe that such an iiistiory would
not take place, there is no 111110 in thus us-
'visibly who mould exert his stroagest efforts to ob-
tain that object more willingly than inself.—
hut With the King's answer before mi,„ 1 t de-
darelhat I am satisfied ou that point, and, there-
fore think the application to the Throat-. asking
for Ihut which is already promised, snit Meese unne-
cessary, but objectionable. In calling upon this
meeting to abstain from an unnecessary address, I
place no unjustifiable: confidence iii either this Ma-
jesty's isomer to the Corporietion of London, or iu
the sincerity of his Ministers; but I "all upon you
to place, in a public instrument coming from such
high authority. the same reliance as you are in the
habit of (Asserting iii the ordinary intercourse of
life. I know that ,t has been both asserted and
written tient this instrument does not explicitly pro-
mise invedigation. In order, therefore, to satisfy
all doubts upon dust, I 0111 its possession of a fact
wllieli t be believed, if I sun entitled to the
I °lnman credence of society : I theryfore declare,
is the most unqualified manner. satisfied to be
bneinlvel with the character of fahwhood anJ
du-
plicity if it prove otherwise, that um inquiry is at
this moment not only in its progress of adoption.
but tt.at it nil! be eiarried on in the most open and
public snootier. For the certainty of this infor-
mation. I have the authority nut ef (me of the Ca-
binet. brat of a Gentleman doily connected with.
sad boa:ding an unite in, the adini.Jistration.—

/!rune, wee, !) In obedience to the wishes
of this meeting I will name my authority, and
have only to prentior, that with Ministers I have
no cousinitinication whatever : lam indebted for the
possession of this fact, to nit friend and neighbourMr. Sturges Bonnie. (Luba laughter,mixed trith die-
appralratiun.) 1 now proceed to observe on a part
of the speech of theGentlemati who preceded me,
with aatisfactiou, hecause I there fully coincide to
hie opinion. Indeed to differ with a man of un-
doubted talents, a powerful and argumentative
writer, is not the
Those great qualitica I am always ready to attri-
bute to him, (Mr. ('obbet), although it has been
my lot to have smarted under their eeverity. neer!
hiar!) I only ask iii return the same right to form
my (mu opinion, and, when siecessery, to assert it
manfully and without constraint. That the right
to petition our Sovereign is a great paramount pri-
vilege, secured by law to the subjects bf this come•
try, is what I trust no man will ever presume to
deny. Was that birthright of Britons invaded, most
cheerfully would I shed the last drop of ins blood
to recover and re-assert it. But although there
can be no question of thr ! right, there may be a
question of the expediency of exercising it. It is
because I deem its exercise at present inex-
pedient, that I oppose the resolution of the No-
ble Lord, mud the attire.: of the last speaker.—
And let it hi remembeied, that if ever there was a
part of the Royal Prerogative which the Cnusti-
tuition of this kingdom treats with most dericary,
it is that very part which the proposed Address calls
in cibreation, namely, the Conclusion of Treaties
and Conventions, the appointment of ofiicere, and
the convening of Parliament. If inclined, 1 could
oho speculate, as the friends to petitioning have
clime. on the specific relations and general teudency
a CeeetitilM Which has been so reprobted.
But so etiammoured, mu I of fair and public inave
tigation, that I will abstain from hypothetical
statements, end commit the development of the
facts to that military tiibinsal, the only one now
lewdly .competent to come to a &visit:hp. Should
there fr stichelevelopement appear circumstances
ohieli *fleet the responsibility of His Mnjesty's ad-
visers, there is no doubt but that the zeal of
party, nod indeed of every Member of the Le-
gislature. will institute, with respect to Mi-
nisters, the fullest parlinmentery investigation.—
The last speaker has attempted to impeach the
character oft leneral Sir Arthur 11'ellesley. On that
!mint I put myself in direct opposition as him (Mr.
Cobliet). IVlwilier that distinguished officer fills
his civil situation in Ireland with advantage to the
public! I shall not delay to inquire, became, I am
not in possession of the means of fully aisertaiii-
iiig. Bust with respect to his military reputation,
I am confident it at present stands as high at home
iii the country where he has been so gallantly
serving. If it should stand rather higher in Pore
t teed, it is because, ainongat his brave companions
iii arms, his character is so respected and confirmed,
. that the charges or ineinnoteses of no man can even
iinisench it, much more take it away. Hear
Hear!) Ask any oue of that brave army where
(leiter,' Sir A. IVellesley was to he found ern the
clays of the engagements, nod the answer will be,in
the hottest of the fight (hear! !!rear!) In re-
viewing the conduct of any individual, common
justice enjoins us not to anticipate guilt, nor to sub-
ject nor judgments to the influence of prepadire.
Aud surely if ever there was a tingly more entitled,
not alone to the !benefits of impartiality, not alone
to yonr protection from /prejudgmeist, but even to
your inderhgence, they are those military and naval
men who brave every danger, esiliniii to every pri-
vation, and are emitinnally risking their lives for
flue defenee of coo- interests, end the adraneensent
of your omsnerity unit glory.—( Hear ! Hear !!
Shout.' it iiiifintunetely happen, that a disgraceful
event should occur, such as whet ham taken place
natter General Dalrymple,—(Nittluir tom t use we
Orrcr, in ere', I. go scree,' the other.) I do not
*mose. but roll noon you to forbear from hieing
influenced by tour prejudices, and calmly to await
until vow are fully peranaded that the inquiry you
Peek will not be wanted. With respect to the
state of this ccitintry, I will say hut little. I ad-
mit that every check ought to lie given to the de-
structive stalking-horw of corruption ; midi do
believe, that reform is in a course of proceeding--
(No ! No ! No !) I do deprecate ally factions at-
tempt to alienate the people at this time front the
Executive Government, inasmuch, as that bring
united we catmint fall, and divided we erotica stand.
I therefoie feel it my duty to propoae, stall amend-
inept to the. Resolution proposed by the Noble
Lord, that notwithstanding the disappointment
experienced throughout the sanitary inconsequence
of the late Convention, yet, upon the ground of
Ilia Majesty having already a hedged himself to in-
stitute inquiry, and in conformity with the prin-
ciples of jounce, we forbear interference, until ac-
quainted with the result of that hoc ericention."
MrPoitea --“Gentlemen, since the Resolution
was proposed by the Notih. Lord, an amendment
has been submitted, directly contrary to the ten-
dency and object of the former. The moods upon
which this amendment stands are, that our Address
Is unnecessary--end next, that luy our interference
we are golly prejudgiibg. 'to such a
sion I never can subscribe; because I sun
preeted irresistibly with the propriety of expressing
to our Sovereign our deep regret that this disgrace-
ful ConventiOn should ever have taken place; and
next, that the causes which led to this stain upon
our character should befully and openlydeveloped.
What, if a foul murder lie ecismnittecl, do we not
call it enorder ? IVe certainly do ; and shell we
he subjected to the imputation of prejudgirez, be-
cause we r'probate a Convention which all admit
to be disgraceful to the British WIMP, sod preju-
dicial to the interests of our Allies? Can any new
who views the whole, and every part of this trans-
action, deny that it dews not fully merit all the re-
probation which it has received ? 11'e first lied.
that the French. Cominaialer, apprehensive of our
army in Portugal being reinforced, did inactive
every expedient, by cellecting Ids 'clink force,
marching out four his entrenchments, to lone;
the British tr 011.% as quit kly as possible to nu ea-
gillgeMeall. Still, notwithstanding sill his activi.-,
and address, hr is coomplotely heatea lir one half
the British force. With this vietorion, naffs, iuu
momentary expectation of considerable reinforee-
ments, a large Portuguese ar.av en-oiler:dim( edit
we,, in a country hobble agiiiiist the ebietuy,alinost to

whati
an extreme of vengeance,
petted ?—Surely nothing short of nu' tirld-.
1 et c
victors
apitulation.
rlel
gematvtie::: very
of
fen eallßmityrildrotaaitoryhl eilarr(
telr
Commandera result
this li'iiraceto::)cowl
itrci
lear
armistice or preliminary treaty, winch rile
fettled French army was to be recollected to'
in Britith chips, there to be inimediateli
to fight against the heroic Spaniards, P'
are in the ineost glorionsof all causes,
tionof their natio/ex:country from a vile.,
potion. There is something Will more
nary, our C 111111 l Hinders give manumission
don to all the traitors in Portugol. Th.
hare marshalled In that country a depot
spies kept under British protection, and
by British faith. ( I kar ! hear! her
Maestri of delivering Porto:pd, which
jeet, front plunder and aggression, a
%ere.' the French army from destruction,
to afford it fresh opportunities for
hostility.—(hear! hear!) I have
the part of this disgraceful event,
affect the interests, nay, safety of
ally. It it not upon an ocelot-retie,
mysterious and inscrutable that ever
that the people of Eligland ought
inert. For my part, I never will
foul participator in that act of disasti
grace, by my *dente. No ; I molten('
the moment when the people of Eill
declare to the world, the reoet, indit
mortification, which they feel at th
event—that wherever the poison WIS. 4,
should follow. (Hear! hear! hear !)
Revere:lid Friend tells us, that isitititry is
pOsitireiy. I ileuy it in toto: to he sure th
the answer to the Corporation of London,
thing iu the shape of a petty corny
which such an inference may be
even what kin(' of inquiry it, that?—,
%What is a due inquiry ? The Mi:
you, one that dues not affect its.
will answer, such a one as a ill
(A Laugh.) The people will frame
of it, us it accords with their portico!
on the subject. But we have this da.,
prized, front the authority of Mr. Sturgis
that it will be not only a due. hut a
Now, I say, that if we had Mr. Sturges
even my Lord Hawkeshury, here, and
amiurtimr and rc-esarnination, we cold,
other information, 1 a °old not he satisfied.
of Inquiry, or Courts Mambo', cannot
cause they cannot embrace the deselopemeut
the causes, or the conduct of all the persons t
this disgraceful measure may prohably
butalile. The country wain*, and nor
a full, open, mid Parliamentary investigation.
opposers of tilt. Address argue, that the
which we seek is promised, and wilt certniule
place. lfthat so, then we do no harm by our
terterence, row can our application to the
considered offensive.—/Hear ! Hear !)—Cut
I see this mai. ty to prevent petitioning, and
there exists in a certain quarter such uneasiness
that itcconiot„ my suspicions are aroused ;
the sincerity of the promise, and tbiuh.it the
of the people to exercise their invaluable and
doubted right.—/I/col-! Hear!)—'flex people .
this country ought not to remain inactive, bar sire
the city of London has peti • ed and received an
answer. That great body may be far our supesicas
in a commercial few, but that is no reasou for oar
acting similarly in onr plain country way.—(.4
lasigh.)—lt is upon these grounds that I cot:sides
it the most joyful act of my life to support-the re-
solutioo proposed; because I conceive, by is , ilia',
I endeavour to mimic my country, in the ,
of the word, from any participation in tht
transaction.
amendment, its proposed by the Rev. Mr.
['nutter, was then read, amidst strong murmurs of
disapproval, anal ass seconded by the Rev. Mt.
Garnet. Hot considered the country bound by every
tie of gratitude to an aged ansl wooer:dale Monsrel,,
to Remit the fulfilment of, his gracious protnie :or
investization.
The HIGH Suiten+, then put the question on
the amendment, as proposed by the Rev. Mr.
Poulter, which was negatived unanimously, with
the ear epti 111 l of ten persona in that crowded assem-
bly. The resolution of Lard Northesk was then
imoniiromeily carried.
Mr. COSISET—"`" In pursuance of the Beloit,-
tion now carried, I move that the Address and
Petition read by WV, and unw in the hands of the
Deputy Sheriff, he the Address and Petition of this
Meeting."
A desultory conversation then took plaice, in
which it was conahlered a point of etiquette to re-
ceive the Address from the proposer of the reso-
lution.
Mr. Corterrr—" I stand here in the exercise of
a right, and cannot wave it upon a point of courtesy.
I come here with my neighbours, the shires of ao
party; mid iu Justice I most persevere in pressing
the motion which hes been duly put."
The Address of Lord No, theak was then read.
as well as that of Mr. Cobhett ; and the qii:Aion
was thee put, which of them the Meeting would
approve. On the first chew of hands, the immbeom
were so balanced, that the High Sheriff could not
decide. It was, however, on holding up the hat..
decided, that the majority were in favour of the
following Adobes., as proposed by Lord Northesk,
and seconded by Sir Thomas Miller:
To THE ICING'S MOST EXCELLENT
May it please yonr Majesty—We Tar Majest)*i most du-
tiful soil loyal pithier'', time Nodality, Gentlemen,
Freeholders, and other Inhabitante, of the c tttttt iv ro' south-
amptim, her tense to approach your Maii.i.t)'s Throoc,oltib
the sincerest eseurnocin of oar zealous attecbuient to swo
Post) Person and Family • and knowing that ”iiir M,
jesty'e trite glory is in...parable from 'hot of your ',cork.
we laninhly vcX leave to caper...me evict' and erne, of thr
Convention lately entered into by the Commutates of your
Majesty's Fixers in Portugal, soil the 0.1111111/illidrr of Ow
French Anny, in Lisboa : and farther, 'Moth to submit I
your Nlajcsty our earnest amid motions perier, th.:t your :If.
jelity aid 7,e evarionity pleased In instittor such tad, public,
and rival inquiry into this transaction, as will lead to the
ilio-overu of nll llns.• calmest which have produced so event
so injurious le the humour al this Country, and the Wm.
of the Allies.
After a motion of thanks to this High Sheriff
his upright anal iinparti.d coltduct, the Meriting
dissolved.
The evening conelisolert with itleadid dinners at
the Ucorge 04.1 %Mite Uart 11111,

Was to L
f
'er
I.leur ! e,,
Iliatit victor%
r coaeludeli .
which the d
iveyed to Fr*.
lately furiturq
eusessed antf
s, the emetic!,
le tied base usu
airs extrsord it
mission and
I. That is,
depot of Frcra a
and Kuitralit
Aear ! )
ich ass our o
• we have d,
a lion, in old
,e enterprise 3
I! nut !Ileums.
which %rut 1
of our tiscd s
.s
e the most
ver was limblus
ght to reoan
will become
Master mod
tend that this
nkland twoint
ndignatiom, a
this igalianinieu
the mond,
tr !) Ent to
uiry
! sure there 1. in
London, scam
nuosition. Emu
ext. acted ;
-A due inqinty
iuistcro will til
The (:euenil
II acquit
rte their
iinprestious
s day been ape
Sturges Bourne,
public inlionv.
irges R0ar,,.., or
and if, idler ex-
-7.0u1d extract 110
at isticJ. Courts
mot satisfy, be-
elopement of ull
persons to whom
drably be atti-
I om.:lit to hove,
estigation. The
hat the inquire
II certmiuly take
harm by our in-
n the Throne be
it ')—Cut when
g, mid that
11 uneasiness Oa
lured ; I doubt
titihit the duty
humble and us-
-Tlie people of
active, beeline
and received as
Far our popes ion
• reason for oar •
entry
that I consider
.mpporr the re-
‘e,ll. 5..• &Mg,
• in the e:mapp,,
on in this fidi
py the Rev. Mr.
att. murmurs ct.
the Rev. Mr.
bound by every
,noble hlonareh,
rats protme ;or
he question on
the Rev. Mr.
inia wously, with
crowded ahem-
rthesk was then
of the Resole-
!), Address and
u• hands of the
Petition of this
took pine-, in
etiquette. to tr-
ier of the rcso-
Inshi!tenhe exercise
r: el'? larnveC of
r or:Os:C.
go