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boa stench a supposition Indeed,
every ant must feet indignant. except, perhaps, the
worthy Baronet, who seemed tolame been SO much
diverted by st—.(isiairglib insulted
them by °invinte.thein gairbledsextract, thicasa.e the
whole of the dispatch would have gone to expose
the imbecility of the Commander-is-Chief. lie
had read accounts of officer., which expressed in-
sliginttion. • It aims generally reported, that Sir Ri-
chard Strachan had sent nn account of the whole
tritiotstiaii, which Lord Chatham as a Cabinet
Vititstrr, was entitled to rye ; hut Sir It, Strachan
bud not the same advantage of seeing the represen-
tations of Lord Chatham, in reply. This was one of
the inconveniences of employing Cabinet Ministers
upon service. Though Sir R. Strachen was brave,
though Ire had every qualification to attack the foe,
still he could not encounter, with effect, a Cabinet
Moister. (11 great confusion ocettrred at this part
of Mr. Waithatan's speech, in consoptrnce al the
Nreat pressure among the stranger: below the bar.)
Viler being restored, lig stated, that there was a
Tvimrt abroad, that Sir R. Strachan was obliged to
Telenet, in same measure, the representations he had
' Tootle; wlnitever fortitude he might hare against
toe enemy, be had none when brought in competi-
tion . with a Cabinet Counsellor ; perhaps, like
Corporal ?rim. he thought that though death was
very welt in a field, it was very nwful in a house--
(a faueA 1 At all events, it was necessary for this
brave tuan's ehsracter also, that an investigation
should take piece. When they saw a grand army.
aot by detachments, (rot that would iujure the
splentioar of the scent,) but all together perishing,
ingloriously, in the swamps of Holland, it was
neceseary that an inquiry shonld take place..aa
Was it net decessary, when the whole Income•
car( of the year was spent, to know how much money
and men were !net, and in what manner. Accord-
ing to the statement of an officer, they were burying
at the rate of' two hundred and fifty a-week ; five
thousand out of fifteen thousand had died, and the
remainder was brought borne to perish in their own
country. If they did not go up with an address,
after such transactions, they were a nation only tit
to he slaves. Some tnemliere, he was assure, ad-
mired what all this reticle's, should be about, and
why they should not illuminate, and have balls, and
entertainments, while such scenes were going on.—.
In the 3 oar fifty-six, when the constitution was at
least as vioswaus as now, our ancestors called for
•n
inquiry in the case of Admiral Byng. which was
complied with ; and though, perhaps, it was hard
with respect to Byng himself, it was undoubt-
edly nenductive of national advantage ; and if
• similar inquiry had been adopted upon late
occasions. won't{ have Wired the country from much
disaster. Ile wished to know what degree of ca-
lamity those Geatlemen could bear, and what
quantity of blood and treasure, lost for ever to the
nation, would be 'sufficient to induce them to go
tin with an address? They had gone up—they
were ready enough to go ap upon ether occasions;
when Ministers tottch-il Cie spring, they were
rr... Iv to compliment them, and talk of causes
worthy of standing up for ; if such was the case,
'tow coal,' they stand gazing with such a stupid
apathy at such things, without expressing their
Wonder and amazement ?—(Applanses)—he wished
the Corporation to (-minder the -rank ethic.' it
Lela in the country, a Corporatirse which ought
to give the rionntry a tune, rind hold tip to it
exnmples of vine* arid independence—(app/awes.)
—Whet) they said that Spain was a course wor-
thy of this enquiry, why di I they not, when
all, instead of taring recovered. was abused and
lost. act with the same candour, sad demand
ingitity •?---(grophruses.) lie was now come to that
plot, up6itivh!rh there 'night he some difference
of 011.11»ftri—th.it which recomineutied the cell.
ing of Parliament. Some people would ask, why
reroinmend the Parliament to lit called, when
it has been called already ? But eehlin he looked to
what hands the administration Was entrusted---to
men who were striving all they could its cheat and
deceive each other—Capplouses)—torn, under whom
such armies were destroyed, could they entrust
them another day, moth less a month or two, to
their discretion ? Ile confessed, that it was ugainst
hie wish this part was introduced. for hie confidence
in Parliament was lost ; instead of Umpiring into, it
io the habit of defending, corruption and em-
bezzlement. When they talked of the Constitution,
they should have some determinate idea of it; and
if be understood it rightly, it implied power in
the Representatives of the People, and responsibi-
lity in the Ministers of the Crown; hut Parliament
now combined to make a stand against all attacks
noon resumption : lie would wish Reforns to begin
and end there ; but lie saw no prospect of it. He
I.nd been told to try the experiment of an apilli-
cration again; to which he had con&nted. 1 wo
mouth, was certainly a terrible period for the Par-
liament to meet; another expedition might sail in
the mean time, and bring fresh disgraces and fresh
calamities. Having spoken thus freely, perhaps
too freely for prudence, there was another topic
Boron which he would milk" • few observations`
Much had been said of the habit of crying down
pubic men ; lie did not wish to cry them down any
fareher.then their conduct justified There were
mime among them upon whom he had dependence,
but it was impossible for them to transact affairs
isserailly for the country, while they were tied down
by the Borough-mangers. (Applausei.) When he
heard one party trifling fault with the income-tax,
it; one moment, and increasing it in the next.—
..hoe he saw it threatening to bring Ministers to
Cpe bur, and afterwards suiting with those Mi-
histere—he could not i,nt question their inte-
grity. When he• saw Lord Clrey standing epon
tables, to inculcate the necessity of reform,
and censuring the apathy of the people, yet
afterwards denying that cause, and treating it
-as a cant, he could not but suspect public
men. One party lie believed was possessed of more
homair than the ether ; but if the country was to
he destroyed, it signified but little which of them
performed the task. From fighting for the deli-
larcener of Europe, they were now reduced to self-
defence; and if they were only occupied about their
own concerns, in place of the common cause, lie
would ask any man could the country stand? If the
scenes of the last three months were to be re.wctrd,
could it stand ? He did not wish to cry down public
num, he 'wished to keep them to their principles,
stid to save the Corporation front becoming such
tem., insipid mortals, as to abstain from going up
So the Crows. One olwervatiou more be would

ales before he. eoneluded. A great deal was tees
stantly said About the prosperity of the country
but, in judgiug of its prosperity, they should take
the whole country into account ; they should look
to the situation of the peasant and the hushatitlinems
instead of confining their views to the overgrown
fortunes of a few, which were foul excrescelices,-not
natural wealth, the fruit of expeditions, which went
into the pockets of contractors, while the real re-
-ources of the nation ...ere exhausted. if they per-
tnitted those things, the beasts and minds of Leg-
lishmen must be broken down. Ile would venture
to may, that, in all those expeditions, they had lost
100,000 men. Upaff the whole, it became them to
go up to His Majesty; and if-Ilis Majesty was well
advised, lie would go to his Parli • mint, and say,
as George theSecoirl had said, that he was grate.
NI to his people, who had felt so sincerely fur the
degradation of the Crown, amid the ruin of the
country. (Load applause:.) Ile concluded wall
moving, •
" That an Address be presented to His Majesty, praying
laui to institute en inquiry into the foe unwise, ilfdigested,
and calamitous expedition, by which the blood and trea.
ware of the realm had brae wasted, the character of one
gallant army exposed, end its cowbel; reduced, by pesti-
knee, Frwatlona, and disease, more than by the sward.
And eau to inquire into the Mans and Instructions upon
which these expeditions were undertaken ; and situ the outi-
ductand capacity of the Commanders, to whom they were
Intrusted. And, in order more effectually to prosecute these
inquire-a, to beseech His Majesty forthwith to sociable the
Parliament."
Sir W. Courts observed on the many digres-
sions the last Speaker lied made from the question
for the consideratio• of which the ineetio,g was
call'ed. lie had unnecessarily gone into Spain,
and made litany round and hold assertions, with-
out documents to prove them; and, in feet, wiihout
hitting any grounds upon which to support them.
No man was more an advocate for the rights of the
Corporation than he was, but he hoped these rights
would be properly etercised, both with respect to
manner and to time. He would not follow the
last Speaker in his travels into Spain, which he
thought utterly irrelevant to the question for the
discussion of which they were called to this
meeting; but, even on that question, should it be
thought necessary, he would be glad to meet him
on any future day. He ever did, and did now,
approve of that feeling which would grant sac-
cburs to Spain, in the warmest manner, and which
had the effect of inspiriting their national energies,
and affording to them the proudest hopes of ulti-
mate success. Instead of the imputed disgrace,
there was nothing in the Hon. Geittlernao's speech
hat a charge of disease upon the troops employed
in Wialcheren, for which no Minister could, by pos-
sibility, he answerable. Tn have heard the Hon.
Gentleman, one would have thought the army was
surrounded, destroyed, and disgraced. Instead
of that, it turned out that they had vanquished
every thing but disease ; for which no' adruinis-
tration could be thought answerable. He was
free to confess, that, in his opinion, the administra-
tion were disgraced by private brawls and quarrels.
Great blame was to be attached to those to whom
he now alluded. As far, however, as he could
judge of the expedition, he thought the plan- a
good one, though he must think the original plan
was very badly Supported. Upon this part of the
subject he thought much more than he would say.
/Lard laughter.) He had no objection to inquiry,
but he could see no occasion for the city of Lon-
don stirring ow the present occasion. Parliament
was the proper source from which to derive invest!.
gation ; and to dictate from this Court, he pre-
sumed. was an extension of authority, not recog-
nised by the Constitution. As for Lord Chatham,
it was hut fait to suppose. and he would take it
upon hinsseff to say, that he would be the first to
propose an investigation int• the conduct of' the
Expedition. There might have been a difference
of opinion between naval and military men, but it
woe evident, from the judgment of the Council
convened by Lord Chatham, that it was impolitic to'
go on. The Gentleman who spoke last bad made
assertions without proof, of 5 or 600 men in this or
in that quarter. He denied the fact : for the very first
report heard on the landing of the troops at Wal-
cheren, was, that there were 30,000 men to oppose
them at any single point. The Hon.. Gentleman
was equally mistaken, when he said the Davy did
every thing. From his own knowledge, he could
say, that the army co-operated in every movement.
The Hon. Baronet then passed . a deserved and
handsome eulogium on the army and navy, and
lamented the disease that had thinned the troops,
though it was by no means so had as had been
represented. No man could tell him there was
any national disgrace to this. In his opinion,
Walcheren was more valuable titan either Malta
or Gibraltar; and the Minister' who advised
its evacuation, ought to be dismissed. The Hey
pourable Baronet then entered into a defence of
the measure, and contended, that, as a diversion in
favour of Anstrie, it was wise and justifiable.
From this exertion we stood higher and firmer than
we had ever done as a nation. The reason why we
did not succ•••al altogether, wasofrom the armistice
being come d between France and Austria. The
Hon. Barmaut then generalised, and contended,
that if Austria had continued the struggle, the di-
version made by Britain must have been very ef-
fectual. He raw no occasion for this address.
Parliament were the proper court for instituting
the inquiry, and if they slid not properly exercise
their functions, he would be the first to support
a proposition aimiluir to that now made.. Under
tins persuasion, he begged leave to move the pre-
vious question.
Mr. S. Dixon rnae to second this proposition.
The time of the Court had been taken up with
the most irrelevant matter he had eve/ heard on
any question. The story of Spain had nothing to do
with what they were atimtnoned together to discuss.
But, even on this part of the question. he would defy
Gentlemen to produce three military men who
would support the opinion given by the mover of
this question, so' the talents and conduct of Lord
.Wellington. Every than, who knew ail thing of
military tactics. he wild sure, awarded the most
unqnalitied praise to Sir Arthur Wellesley. The
only cause of the reverses of this Gi-aural was the
went of provisions, a source breathing no obloquy
on the Cksieral. If the Court wonld look at our
succeeses, they were such as by far to counterba-
lance our reverses; and he thought it but fair
to take both into the same account. We
had the victories of Neilson. Deacon, and Wel-
lesley, which had atrigped our enemies. to se:

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aphid the sinfartunate easnolties of those who
Ilook at the gloomy side. But, independent
,of this, Parliament were immediately to inert ;
mid there could be •no doulor al priori, that
they would do their duty iu investigating this im-
portant question. Parliament was. the true con-
stitntional source, and if they did not do their duty
on this important occasion, he would join in any
address, fur which, at the present moment, he
could see no hecessary or le,rel cane.
Mr. Alderman Smuts followed, on the same
grounds, and thought the address, at pre.rent,
au-
nece
Mr. CiIIIFFITIIS supported the nieginal motion,
and thought the Court ought not be silent on this
occasion. Ilettren atiloalterie.l on the iniiiisteral
exections of the Istne-ida, and on Ministers cutting
each other's throats, instead of attending to the in-
terests of the country; and gave his decided vote for
the original motion.
Mr. KEWBIE thought, if the Council agreed to
the present question, they would sacrifice their dig-
b.ecause the country could not think with them;
hut if they took reasonable resolutions, the country
would ever respect mid foliose their example.
Mr. Aldern.an WOOD supported the original
motion. The sickness of the troops he consi-
dered as uo excuse for Ministers, its they meat have
been aware of the unhealthy climate, before they
bent nut the expedition.
Mr. Alderman &HOLEY thought, that, instead of
reflecting disgrace on Ministers, the present mo.
tiou, if carried, would reflect disgrace on the Cor-
poration of Loudon, who, net buying gruunds or doe
contents before them, were incompetent to form
judgment inn the present momentous, though dal*
rate w .anion.
Mr. Alderman COOOBERERE supported the ori-
ginal proposition, as expedient at the present
time. After the importance and magnitude of the
question had been acknowledged, he ass surprised
at the ministerial escwria, which had 60 long influ-
enced many Members, being continued. The Hon.
Alderman then took a long retrospective view of
the conduct of many Members of the Court, and
contended, that, in the present, us in many past in-
stances, they had supported Ministry through thick
and thin. Before Parliament met, he contended it
was their duty to address the King, that the sense
of the Common Council might enforce an inquiry,
which could ant be expected from Parliament, if
left to itself; which, during the last session, had
deadened and smotherearthe sense of the people.
Mr. Alderman HUNTER supported the previous
question, and contended, that if the artieirpi.of the
opposition party on this question gained a paltry
majority of two or three votes in a hundred, it
was not the sense of the 350 Common Councilmen
of London.
Mr. JACKS stated -the question before the
Meeting, which, he thought, had been deserted, in
much of the preceding argument. There were
only two routs for them to consider—lit,
titer the Expedition to the Scheldt was politic'
and, 4J, Whether this was the proper time to ad-
dress the Crown on the subject? He could not
think it was ; and if Gentlemen, on the other side,
could declare, that they had no confidence iu
Parliament," and " that they did not believe there
were twenty independent Members of Parliament,"
he was at a loss to conceive for what purpose they
would petition for an assemblage of that House.
For his part, he could set no ground for the .Cor-
poration of London, immediately after going up to
congratulate His Majesty on the occasion of the
Jubilee, going again to interfere in his prerogative,
with regard to the assembling of Parliament. If
Parliament, when they met, did not do their duty,
he would be one of the first to insist on an inquiry.
Mr. Alderman ATKYNS took a full vine of the
question, and contended against the policy of
coming to an immed ate decision on a motion, in-
cluding so many points, on which they were, from
the shortness of the time, and their general know.
ledge, incompetent to judge. He trusted the
Common Council would nut be rash, on so import.
ant a point ; and that, before they determined that
an expedition was unwise and ill-conducted, they
would at least think it necessary to have some evi-
dence before them.
Mr. Alderman Parce supported the previous
question. Mr. Alderman Cause • mud Mr.
PHILIPS, the original motion.
Mr. WArrumAs made a most able and animated
reply.; after which the Court was cleared and di-
vided. For the previous question—
Alclennsa
_9

..

Commoners 6716
Against it—
Altiertnen and Lord Mayer

Comutouers 7i--77
Majority
The Court then divided on the original question
of Mr. 'Waithtnan, when there appeared—
For the rluPvtiun—
Aldermen and Mayor
Commoners 61-46

-----
Against
Aldermen 9
Commoners Sa-6a
Majority

LAW lIVTELLIGEIVeIt.

CURT OF KING'S BENCH,'Dtc. s.

Sittings at Nisi Prius, befure Lnrd ELLENEOROUCH,
and a Special Jury.

HARRISON 0. RING.

The Plaintiff in this c;pir is a respectable Attor-
ney, .Ad the Defendant is a person well known to
the public, in consequence of his extensive 'wen-
niary transactions. It was an action to recover de.
megee for various instances of malice towords the
Plaintiff, exhibited in the shape of diferent crimi-
nal prosecutions, libellous aspersion, and false im-
prisonment. Four charges against the Defendant
were specified in the fecord. First, that he had
maliciously, and without any reasonable, or probe.
ble cause, apprehended the .Plaintitf, and charged
him, before the Magistrates of Bow-street, with hier.
int; forged an acceptance to a Bill of Exchange,
for the sum of 151. purporting to be the accept-
anon of iVloeirs. Home and Co.. No. 4, Copthall-
court. no sitch persons (as was alleged) being in ex•'
istence. Secondly, that, on the 11th of December,
IRO, he puyished a libel on the character of the
Defendant, in the Sunday Newspaper, called The
British Gills-fiats, in a statement of facts, purport.
ing to be- a report of the proceedings before the
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Magi,teafes, on the said charge of forgery. 'Medi!'
that he had maliciously entered judgment in execs
tion against the Plaiutiff, on a warrant of attnroti.te,
for the sum of aaol., whilst, at the time, -he w.,tint indebted to him a farthing; but, on the'
eontriiry, that the Defendant eyed bitn, (the
PiaiDtitf) 451. the balance of aii accouat. Fourth.
Iv,' and lastly, that the' Defendant, on the jth of
jacoiart-, in the presentyear, aro before die Orai.d
Jury of the county of Middlesex, and preferred an
iudietnient against the Plaintiff, for obtaiinog moo •
ney uurlrr false pretences, by 'glans of the said 3
Bill of Exchange, he (the Defendant) bad before
charged him with having uttered, ktiowiug it to tot
false and forged.
The evidence on the pert of the Plaintiff fnily
sustained the case stated by the Attorney-Gem:cal
to the Jury.
Mr. tl.tryoau, oa behalf of the Defendant.
made an eloquent apOettl to the Jury ; wtua, aftrq
an impressive charge from the Bench, wiled fir
half an hour, and found a verdict for the Pla.nuti,
damages 1,5001.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAT, Wtseutarraa.
Sift*, at Nisi Penis, before Lord elpief Justice
i~atr end a Special ilia,.
RIOTS AT COVENT-GA RDgN THEATRE.
HENRY CLIFFORD, Esq. N. NHL J•INES BRANDON.
There being only tie of the Special Jury in at-
tendance. the Plaintiff's Counsel preyed a tabs ;
the remainder were selected from the persons in at.
tendiflCe as common jurors.
Mr. itHNNINGTON stated, this was an action
brought by the Plaintiff against the Defeudant, to
recover damages for au assault made on the Plain-
till lay the Defendant, at a certain Theatre, called
Covent-Garden Treatre, on the 3lst of October
last. There was another count, charging the De-
fendant ...till falsely imprisoning the Pluintiff; to
which the Defendant had specially pleaded ; first,
that the Plaintiff had, in the Theatre, which was
licensed to rulurro Tragedy and Comedy, acted
riotously, viol hail broken the peace dirriiug the
performan-e, op tire injury of the proprietors, with
the intesemin of effacting a reduction of the prices,
in consequence of which, and for the purpose of
preventing an interruption to the performance. the 1
Defendant gave the Plaintiff into the custody of a
constable. The second plea was, that the'Plain-
tiff had heen instigating_ other persons to•give their
assistanee in support of the riot. The third plea
was, that the Plaintiff had been generally Maim;
the riot, cud generally instigating others to it. And
the fourth plea was, iii justificatiou, that flan De-
fendant acted as the servant of the proprietors of
the Theatre.
Mr. Serjeant BEST observed, thpt his Leatoed
hire l had fully stated the cause of action, and the
several pleas put in in answer, by the Defendrin't.
It was a question, if met fairly, of the greatest con- •
sequence and moment. The Plaintiff was a Ban.
rister, of a noble and honourable family ; he had
the greatest urhaoity of mermen, and possessed
most superior tulents. The Defendant ass a sere
vent of Covent-Garden •Iheatre ; bat it wan the
best mode to leave him out of the question, ands,
consider it as a question between the Plaintiff and
the Manners: The circumstances must have Veen
very well known. The Plaintiff csiteplained or a
moo grata assault, which had been eoromitted on
his person, and that he was brought in custody be-
fore is Megistrnte, at Boweetsect Police OfEC.r,
who discharged him, although he heard more thau
they (the Jury) could hear this day, for there was a
charge of riot sttempted to be mode against him.
He did not intend to contend, however illegal the
conduct of the :Vienne's had been, that it ass to
be resisted by violence, although they bad been
guilty of extortion. If even all the pleas were made
out, they would not be anariewer to the Plaintiff's
case. They would find, that if a riot aud uproar
had taken place, it would be proved to proceed front
the stage, and Dot from the audience. He was con-
vinced it would prove so. Whatever riot did take
piece, he was certain his clieut did not participate
in it ; and even if he had, the managers, and they
alone, were to blame; no damage had been done to
the theatre ; and if it was a riot, it was truly a barn-
less one. He was surprised at the moderation of
his client, in marking his damages only at tool. for
the great injury lie had sustained. He memd
them, that he felt confident, that they (the Jury,)
must be of his opinion. The Plaintiff was as
iude-
ppendent as he was respectable. He promised them,
that his client would not put a shilling of it in his
pocket, hut that it shoiald be used for ascertaining
the rights of the public. He here read the
appeal of the Proprietors of the Theatre to
,the public, on the first night of its opening.—
He then commented on it, and observed, that
their conduct, since the rebuilding of the Theatre, •
. but ill accorded with the patronage which they ac-
knowledged to have had received. They boaster,'
of the large accommodation fu: the public. He
wished theta to consider who came under that dee
nomination. It was the person who hod profligacy
aufficiest to g,ive 4001. per year for a private hoe.
He, Serjesnt Beat, went to the Theatre, mid,
from his habits, was a net rugs man ' • but what had
' been denominated riot by the Defesularie, did n t
'strike hum with terror. He observed the two-ahit-
gallery. and f.,und that ono-half of the persons
in it were shut out from a view of the stage.: Pe
honoured the opinion of an enlightened public.
There was au appeal made to them, end they had
as much right to disapprove as approve. The Pro-
prietors receive 15,0001. per annum for the private
boxer, which would repay them A per cent. for
the principal of 150,000 i., which they had laid
out. He was of opinion, that the piddle were ,
right in opposing both the advance of prices, and
the shameful introduction of private boxes. If
they had a remit, which he doubted, he wished
they would produce it, end chew the extent of their
monopoly. lie was extremely sorry that the re-
spectable persons, who inspected the accounts of the
Theitre, as a Committee appointed by the Ma-
nagers, did, with rich peecipitsnce, come to a con-
clusion. His regret was the greater, on account of
his being personally kslown to some of them, sad
he held their worth in high estimation. But it was
impossible for any set• of risen, let their worth be
qtr so great, to inspect, in a few days, the accounts
of such at concern for twenty peers. and.gtve a coin-
petent repeat. They must have been deceived ;
and he wished with all his heart they west mar way

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