The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-10-28 00:00:00

enemies; while
waste of money
then necessary I
His Majesty's
have hoped that
vioced the Cav ..;
ready to institute
the ,chumcter of
lea: arms was tone.
of the City of Loi
inducing him to.
transaction which
expectations of
at a loss to know
are ? I prcsnme
Whitelocke, Ado
ham—for I do
any kind of
The question then
inquiries satisfy tl
have those of Lord
variety of others, -.
waste of public money. l'erlieps .
as these that the Answer alludes; Cahea. which only
tend to shew the variety of means which are teed to
screw money out of the pockets of the public, hut
that no effectual Menus are used to bring
effectuully in justice. I have already alluded
to the business of the fielder. I was told that our
• interposition teas not necessary, as an investigation
would undoubtedly take place, under such calami-
tous circumstances. Can we then suppose that
Ministers will be more indefatigable in iosii-
tutiug an inquiry, where the circumsteuccs have
been claimed as a victory ? I would ask you to
look at the business at I)uukirk—was it not known,
that had it not been owing to the fault of a l'rench
Officer, the whole of our army would have been
obliged to capitulate ? Was it not known that we
had a fleet that was too late of corning up upon
the occasion ? Are we to hare the money thus taken
out of our pockets, and sit still awl see such cou-
duct ? The evacuution of Holland may also be ad-
verted to. Several accounts were published by
Officers who were present upon the spot, who in-
fortmel us of the disgust that WWI created through-
out our army, said of our brave men being ellowed
to perish with cold and hunger, destitnte of cloth-
ing ; ansi that even the flannel drawers and waist-
coats that were furnished them, by the voluntary
contributions of the people, never reached them !
And yet, into that calamitous business, nothing in
the shape of inquiry was ever instituted. If we
advert to the affair at Quiheroo, we find instances
of unpardonable ignorance, by which tfB,U4n men
were forced to turn their arms against us, instead
of boa our friends and allies. -Yet in this ceiel
too, it was . deemed proper to institute inquiry.'
li. the tvpedition to Ferrol, it was ascertained thet
15,000 men were merely landed, took a survey,'
and immedia,...ly returned on board of ship;—
No inqniry was institiited; and such too was the"
case as to the expedition of Rochfort, which it was •
amid AiMsters had undertaken without sufficient
informs:ion. That waa not the case ; for Ministers
were in full infartnatiou upon the subject. But in
the pre,. ut case, there was a lamentable want af
esreemisiest wtringst 'Mir officers ; but it has
heel% the practice, for some years paid, to keep
the set feet of every expedition a profound secret—a
~..de wilitdi left the matter to the chapter of acci-
u.:,.ts; so that the people could not know where '
attach blame. It will be unues:essary to allude b
atly otd.rc cd.e., although there are flimsy of greet
important,. mid magnitude. With regard to that
et '.Vhitelocke, we do unt yet know by whose advice
be was ;. ppointed, or west eminent service be
e.sleperformecl. to entitle him to such a CMS.
mand. It appeared, however, that the appoint-
meta was made In one administration, and ti 4 i-
.quiry, sue.• it was, was instituted during al._
th-r ; by which means he was, as it were, screened
from that punishment which might, otherwise have
been inflicted. This was also the case as to Lord
Melville, who was accused Ly one administration,
and was acquitted by a majority of another; so
that we now find lian, as it were, reinstated into
power; and Le has had, no doubt,* share in advising
the measures now adopted. In these several cases,
we have had uo inquiry of importance, and I do be-
lieve that it is owing to this want of investigation
that we are to impute the coatinuance of our dis-
asters; and Vet, if the same plau were adopted in
regard to appointments in the army, as in the navy,
the conduct of our military officers would bear a
comparison with that of our brave stamen."
Mr. WAITIMIN then concluded with a motion
expressive of the feelings of regret, astonishment,
and disappointment, that such an answer should
have been returned to the late Address of the City
of Loudon.—/For which see advertisement is the

front of this paper.)
Mr. S. Dixon roue, he said, merely to speak to
order. lie submitted to the law cflicer who sat on
the right of the Loid Mayor, whether it was not
the usual custom to move, " that the gracious An-
swer of His Majesty to any Address from the City
should be entered upon the Journals ?" •
The Rstoaucit gave his opinion as to this being
the general custom.
DlC•ie then moved, as an amendment—
" That upon this occasion His Majesty's most gra-
cious Ammer should be previously entered upon
the Journals of the Court.
Mr. AVAITHSIAW said, that he wocld not be
afraid to conteud this point with all the Lawyers
of N'tsstniiiister-Hali. lir had a right to make his
motion, either in the usual war, or in anc other, as
there was no standing order upon the subject, by
which het wild he •-.reerueri.
The ltecoitoce a;tti ed. that when he was called
sn to say what hail been the usual practice, hr
could appeal to tide books of the Court, without
fear or trembling, in support of what he had stated.
Mr. Alderman Costae supported the proposi-
tion of Mr. Weidma), that any .ilesnher of the
Court had a right to state his motion iu any mau-
ner he pleased.
Mr. Quix rose and seconded the nrytion
" My Lord," said he, " I rise in sopport of the
motion which hen been made, and 1 son inclin,tl
to do so iu a Jammer that will do away all prejud.ce
in reg int to tee as a Representative of the City of
London. ‘Ve ate cull-el twos to'ilecide noon a
siurstimi, which not nil the di,nity, the tali-
. ststency. area honour of the City of Loudon, but of
the whole cuaatry. are invo'essl. I tit a
t t e Ministers iu severe: of their fottiga loess:tr..

quainied
tiun, to tell the citizens of Lasko, that it saes in-
consistent with British justice to pronounce judg-
ment beforr trial. It is such a truism, that I shuidd
hare thought that Noble Lord was dreaming when
he dictated such expressions. If sorb an, answer
should be mad lay painenty, rar:onpled with t 1
Address, it may be thought that the citianir wh
London were so foolish and so ignorant of the cong.,
stituticui, and of law mil justier, as to haw nen
up in aliody to call upon ilia Majesty to
judgment iipou pensions without a trial. 'Sidi ties
answer must merely have originated trout our pee'
flouncing our sentiments so strongly as in a inatutat
to anticipate the judgment that was to follow in
inquiry, and this supposition is confirmed by the
concluding paragraph of that Answer, which says,
that this expedition has disappointed the hopes
and expectations of the country. The recent ere.
currences alluded to, must surely be such as in-
volved the honour of His Nlajesty'a aim* and tite
character of the. nation ; they roust he the mosey Of
Whitelocke and of Calder, which are welt known ;
the latter, a iiirritorimij and gallant Milner, souk
and degraded to tiw;"litimost misery, fir Loring
tigirel:i victory; 'lt'ldte the former, who suffered a
ut defeat, has been' slinwed to go lots a
spleadid retiement.llad Lord Hawkesbnrc teethed
to his recollection the occurrences' er the Vast 15
„.
years, *mar decision td

now
position _ City
which only tends to make the people rt 41.111
tool between Ministers and His Majmty, and
create a harrier between the people sod their Sort
reign. Besides the City of atlon, various oth
places have been guilty of this inesepostlis
—The City of Westminster has also ieterpose
and to-morrow the County of Dam will be gall
of a similar interposition. There was certain
something lilee this form of words stied in toe
not very favourable to British liberty. Such a
to be found in the extraordinary answer of Jim
the First, in 1621, when his Parliament Warns
him upon his abandoning the Protcsnints, and
told them he wished for no interposition, except
was willing previously to desire it. So mach th
for the word interposition. There were some mi
so married, as it were, to prerogative, that tI
even seemed to feel respect for despotism, "in
guardian of liberty. These nien tell as net to It
at any of our ancient charter*, Megan Charta,
the Bill of Rights. I have only. however. to w
to a plain Act of Parliament, the first 4 IE
William, ch., 2, where it will be found, that
subject is empowered, at all times, to verities
Sovereign, and that there shall be no iestiedis
to the exercise of it, in a fair and manly we?.
this Act be not attended to, we shall ran the Mil
being treated in the seine manner as the CI
tiers in Balsam are heated. It will be fo
that in that conntry, uo subject, however hie'•
rank. or eittilted his blew.; van send a Pewit,
the Throne, indent it be Ant preseord ton Mn.i
of State. If n jected by mw Minister, lie
present it to another. and if exam rejected
may, if he ehnse, vetitutte to pre,. tit a petiti.,
His Majesty, but he does it iii. ler the lona of
felting hi.; w ii .tot iw.wit the Crwsit ;.3.
ing• of the time. o' I-I -try and El;r aneth. alley F
prom-richt twforie them, but little tf,lnii3.
British sped to controtal them ; yet ciao th it
.w.-i, to and petitions were roue:, ,
musfa tt ery t1i..1 .he pre.e lit reittalsiee one of
Haws eson.r. The eity- of las don adriressed Ct.
• the nine he was tat ••g v,nte ,t in. aeur. i
struu_ii •with iiilll Ti., y told
.ru ; 11'1 'let!. v 1-• tad
,wrong in goiug to twin ...him ineintivni lu tt.t

on our side "Isere • bit in gentral with Uttar hale Meaciirei. kp
and continual 1 -tss 1•0 '?pun this ocesraims, orooselly lay,pssct
for us to sisterpise ?• . Yet we•R *al prejudice. •I say tile! we are 15nond to
Asiower statist* that 'he should Co tjits Anseser as coniincfroor the Macros
re.reat woold have con- ten, and snot from His Majesty ; for it Si a wall.
istssolsos that he was sit all times known principle in the British Cslt•titatlillti that
to inquiries upU“ occasions in which the King,' as Chief Magisstrate! cal do no strong.
of the country or the honour of his right being- ooriforre4 urn
,Liu solely hit the
.neerned ; mid that the interposition public goad. Opou Abase grounds, tliosolerso, I
London could not be necessary toe consider the Attestorr. thtt teas &ten to due Addieso
direct due inquiry to he made into a as the answer of lie! Majesty's advisers. br ratheens '
di hail disappointed the hors and the answer of the Noble Lord (Huwkestear:i ). •
the 11•111Mlo' Now, my Lord, I ion whose mouth it was rad. It. salsa prood day lO#
w shut . those recent circumstances this Court, and for the whole comitry, tbat tidied
? they must be the atliiirs of General forth an Address which told His stairs" ads .%
Caller, and Sir Home Pop- doubted truths; and the Amwofto itimmichasought
not know of any others isi abide to be received, riot with sorrow, but with diotlssin
inquiry avowedly took place.— and contempt. I feel, that acting ris a body repress
hen is, did those novel and military Denting the City of Loudon, we have a great sari
the country ?In civil cases we noble cause to support—the right of the peupte to
,oil Melville, Mr. Davison, and a address and petitios the Sovereign. It was unties.
rs, where there has been a iscairlislous cesoary for Lord Hawkeshury, if he be at all ac-
: money. l'erhaps it is to such cases quainted with the notate of the liriCsh troonnitis

... ..... —........... ....
in years, .
worldhworldhove round no occasion t foveae
we such truisnii. 'Did he not recolleet the .voisteat
cos from Dunlqr"r4, and his own vierel to Piglets,.
.
ten It is truly rebut able, that a man Who has had se
rod many opportissities of knowing and combining
lite' facts, should mitaanselt hie own beast, sea ask
le r.' lwm,elf whether Shwa ought •not to have been ina
lilt quince into thete.tacUsest? 'The reties& &Ma
Pty,' Usetirk was catidCsatlby • Kara Deka, awn-
- mandiagt 40,000 ONO. Was Iledree empaar fanned
the• than he Ireland time trap net aollitioatatit , that
was the balls did not fit the comma, hod eiYlsw Ise
lent could not enter upon the Istasided leer, its comas-
iters quence of which the esmallerila•d • 8419111 My
it in That was sorely • calmer eallod he wa-
it
halas ciWuirle conicwaall4 C
°Nato ;4'. rolicsatioa if 064"1"41.4ier "11
imp we and the UMW Royal Mike allovehtg hit troops
t—e to march, under the most anezinapted eitiaters,
acci- which, if prudent , *stomas sad preeauttio& had
eto beer adopted, mei& hove been avoided; bat'deriul
le W all that time the Rmd Duke himself was la Lou,
'rcpt doe. I ne.at come to the attack upon the fielder
that *hue our. troops Beta' sent, as it were, to Oil
hies .slaaghter, without q Commander-in-Chief. The
!hod ihation was up% that occasion touch indebted is
con-,1 hoe•oan. the.elant Abercromilifilijrne 1.1,1011
'cant- ' will ever be entlietped in titecollirlpioclifOsis
A in- terity. Do !Inc gases afford. any tines bite en
sue- deuce of a priqper system of warfareitremiliag ii
iened the country t ;mid yet no investigating Ibillt phis
have Bat, above all; i would ask, why wits there no in
Lord quiry as to Petrol t Althoughen army' he arailk
Minn, well instructed and dltsLiplined M our mamma, ye
r; so there is always soin4hink,ip tarnish the &kis
into arms, ovlug to the egreklms mismastagement ps
rising r trailing in our military system, and such pnval
cases, inquiries as wily tend to stamp oar MUSS with is
lobe- famy. I come now to what is called ' the into
ration position of the City of London.--an exprcTic