The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-04-23 00:00:00

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Mr. Oldfield, who stood in the light of a King's
evidence, which could not be believed ►n courts of
justice, without being confirmed by other testi-
mony. He then went into the history of that evi-
dence, saying, that a meeting had been held at the
house of Mr. White Parsons, at Castle Cary,
where a conversation took place, in which it
was proposed tharthe bomugh of rlchester should
be purchased ; that to effeft this, it would be sufil-
cient to corrupt thirty poor man, at 301. each.
That Ale. Hopping, as agent, was to procure the
money to build the necessary houses ; and that Mr.
Davison was present and contented to it, though it
was aJmitted, that he afterwards withdrew that
consent. He represented Oldfield to be a professed
dealer in boroughs, and a propagater of corruption,
who went over to the adverse party, and sought for
other principals after Mr. Davison had expressly
withdrawn. There was no proof of any connedion
between Mr. Davison and the sitting Member ; that
the former attempted to bribe, or that Hopping was
his agent : if the plan which Oldfield mentioned to
be suggested in the conversation was carried into
effed, it d.d not follow that Mr. Davison was to
blame.

Mr. JOHNSTONE said, it was generally ad-
mitted that the Attorney-General should not be or-
dered to prosecute unless upon very strong ground;
hut he would ask the House, if that ground
was made cut at present insisted that it
was; and that Oldiield appeared throughout a sus-
reions characler. AU these conspirators, he said,
were low people, not qualified to be Members of
Parliament themselves, and therefore more culp-
Lie in euernpting to corrupt, than those Candidates
could be deemed in the hurry and bustle of elec-
tions.

The first Resolution was then put and agreed to.
The second Resolution stated, that Mr. Alexander
Davison, and Mt. Thomas Hopping, had been con-
cerned in the said conspiracy.
Sir M. W. RIDLEY opposed this Resolution on
his former ground.
Lord COLE maintained that sufficient proof
was given before the Committee that Davison was
an eleelion broker ; and Oldfield an agent, who was
usually employed by him, and had been sent by him
oa that errand to the west of England.
Mr. SHERIDAN confessed that he had not
heard'all the evidence given before the Committee
• stir any paiticular attention ; but as far as it went,
he could find no proof whatever of the guilt of Mr.
Davison ; neither did he feel nay part of that high
indiAnation expressed by an Honourable Member at
those low creatures, because they may not be them-
sL!ves eligible to seats •in Parliament, presuming to
cablate their betters in the arts of corruption. He
' knew of no gleater ci iminaiity in their dealings that
* Lelline Dukes and great Noblemen who sold returns
for boroughs for-4,0001. He feared, even admitting
the truth of the charge, that Mr. Davison was not
sinetilar in such corrupt prailices. We had too
flagrant proofs of that in the large sums; paid to
Lords and Nol.lemen, as compens.itu n fr.r the loss
of their borou,::is, at the time of the Union. Allow-
ing even that Mr. Davison did entert.aia cerrupt
• projeCts, yet the House should also have some
proofs of acts founded on these projects ; for no-
thing could be more utijatt, nor more agaiust law,
than to punish a man for r.rerely Lis intention.
These intentions may be bad, and he might there-
fs.re blamelessly have abandoned them. In that
case, it was also natural, that the same agents should
fly about the country, and apply for ether cm.
ploys. Oldfield might have had Davison's con-
currence in his plan, hut according to his own evi-
dence, the. latter had given it up three mouths
afterwards, which induced him to apply with his
pian to a great man. Supposing the houses to
h..ve beets bolt, and the remainder of the plan to
have been followed up, as it appeared to have been,
• he „would wish to know if it was Davison's money
- that was embarked in them did he levy them, and
seas he now the proprietor olthem At all events, it
%%cult! be unjibtifiable to order him to be prosecuted,
• without hearing what he had to offer in his defence.
!:r. N. VANSITTA la remarked, that though
D.-.vi,on abandoned his plan to Oldfield, yet it
must be remembered, that the buildings still went
on. After all, however, in his mind, there was
not proof enough of bribery against that irdividual,
but there was abundant proof of the conspiracy.
As to Mr. Davison's not having been heard, the
reason of it wrs that he had not applied for it.
The MASTER of the ROLLS said, that ac-
crue:A.l;l to the least judgment he was capable of
forming in this case, it would he neither neces.ary
nor proper for the House of Commons to discuss,
or to deliver .rr.y opinion at. all upon the evidence.
He knew that there were doubts of the propriety
of that Hoarse, ordering any. prosecution at all
under the statute law upon its own authority ; but
it was also notorious, that the practice had been
established since the Revolution. These however,
in the generality of them at least, had been insti-
tuted in eases where the great interests of the State,
or the Conuitution, ;appeared to be at stake. They
were severally libels of a public nature, and not
having references to any individual; they were
such cases, as, if that House did not prosecute,
would not be prose toted at all. There were
usually strong rea,oas, why the House should
not enter upon any :.reliminary discussions,
throwing the whole waight of its opinion and au-
thority in the scale against an individual. He knew
of only one instance on the Journals of a common
law prosecution for a libel being ordered by the
authority of the House'}} and that was under cir-
cumstances of a very singular nature. The com-
mon law in it,elt had imposed very severe punish-
ments upon bribery, but Carly in the reign of George
11. All Act WAS p used, allowing half the penalty to
go to the i!tforrner. In the Bill of Geurge H. as
passed by the Commons, this penalty was fixed at
SUL what followed upon that was extremely worthy
of observation. 1. he House made an amend-
ment in the Bill, which seemed to mark their
dislike altegetber, which was an amenelment in
the Bill, increasing the penalty from 501. to
• 5001. According to the ptevaeges always claim-
ed by the Hotly! of Commons, such an amend-
ment must have proved fatal to the Bill ; it was
expelled to have done so, but contrary to all
espeelation it was adopted Isy the Commons, and
rheas it rested to this day. He begged the House to
recoiled, that a prosecutiemnt their instance did not
aversedesi the certmon-laW proceeings. Certainly,
..:ien such a measure was andartalcest by the Attor-
ney-General, he had it in his power to proteet his
• a case by tir.g his soli prosequi to stop any
f cern; ; but hem he wai not enabled to

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interpose his poe-er, as the informer may be before-
hand with him, or start at the same tinie, ana go on
side by side with him. Let the House mash the
&fed of unseasonable interference. The C.asrt of
• King's Bench allowed the accused to plead the sta-
tute of limitation if no pmsecution should be
instituted against him before the expiration
of the term of two years ; and to . prevent
double prosecutions, would set itself against any
information during the time that the informer
might come in. It the House of Commons there-
fore did not wait till that, time was expired, it pro-
ceeded at great disadvantage. The House on con-
vidion would exiled a sentence suitable to its weight
and dignity ' • but the Court would feel itself in duty
bound to inflid little more than a nominal punish-
ment, lest the statutary penalty, still much more se-
tre, should be sued for afterwards. The Court at
present would End itself peculiarly in that predica-
ment, for while the House was occupying itself in
this discussion, penalties to the amount of 48,000 i.
were already claimed against Mr. Davison, and pe-
nalties also against another of the parties. He must
therefore object to proceedings, in his view, im-
proper in themselves, but at all events tending to
prejudge future discussions pending other prosecu-
tions. He knew not of any precedent for a pro-
secution at the instance of that House for a conspi,
racy, though there had been many for bribery or
; and to put an end, at once, to any further
proceeding on the suhjel of this resolution, he
moved the previous question, which several gentle.
men immediately rose to second.
On the motion for the previous question being
put
Mr. FOX said, if it was not clear to the House
that any thing had appeared tp warrant the pro-
secution of Mr. Davison, moving the previous ques-
tion was the most proper mode of getting rid of
the business for the present, as it left the business
open to Gentlemen fir future discussion.
Strap; ei s were ordered to withdraw ; when
Mr. ISkA E
GG rose, and said, he had no objec-
tion to leaving the previous question open. The
House had already come to a resolution in which
they agreed, th.:t gross perjury had taken place;
and though the punishment of the crime may be
left to individuals by aCtions, yet it would not be ad-
vistal.!e for the House, nor consistent with its dig-
nity, to let out of its power the punishment ofa
crime they had noticed. He had no objedion to
the proposition of the Honourable Gentleman, to
postpone the further consideration.
Mr. VANSITTART agreed to the same propo-
sition on the same grounds.
Mr. GREY said, the principle of the previous
question went only to postpone the consideration of
any question. He only got up to observe on the
situation in which the House would be placed after
having adopted the resolution, that gross corrup-
tion and bribery had prevailed at the Ilchester
election. The Hon. Gentleman thought, that after
such a resolution the House should not lose .sight of
the business. He agreed with the Hon. Gentleman,
but if those aetions did not succeed, the House could
not proceed further, and yet the resolution would
appear on the Journals. He thought the Com-
mittee would have aded more consistently if,linstead
of reporting against individuals, they had come to
some resolutions to redify the state of this Borough,
by extending the right of voting, or by disfranchise-
ment, or any other means that may be thought pro-
per. But it certainly concerned the dignity of the
House not to lose sight of it.
Mr. BR AGGE explained.
'I a previous question was then put and ne-
gatived.

INI.,

last.

Mr. SMITH begged leave to observe, that he was
ignorant of any anions having been commenced ;
the ln.4)ery w. 15 glaring, and he should repeat his
motion.

The original question was then put, when
1 is:: CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, the House had committed itself so far by
agreeing to the resolution, that he thought they
should adhere to it, so far as. to determine to take
the report into consideration on some future day,
and certainly some recorded intention was neces-
sary fur the dignity of the House. He thought it
may be done without passing an opinion on the in-
nocence or guilt of Mr. Davison. He begged leave
to observe, that he gave no opinion ; indeed, he took
the report of the Committee without much examina-
tion of the evidence.

The original question was then put and nega-
tived.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
then moved, that the report be taken into further
consideration on Monday fortnight.—Agreed to.
The I louse went into a Committee of the whole
House on the Clergy Residence Bill, when the re-
port was received, and ordered to be taken into fur-
ther consiieration on Tuesday se'nnight, and the
amended Bill ordered to he printed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, that pre% ions to the Easter recess, he had the
honour of presenting to the House a survey of the
Highlands of Scotland, and the report made by a
confidential person appointed to take it. Improve-
ments of every kind, and ou every occasion, were of
the greatest importance, but in no part of the
United kingdom, more than in the distrias inhabited
by that loyal people ; .nd he hoped the encourage-
ment meant to be given to manufa&ures and com-
merce, would rat a stop to the spirit of emigra-
tion which had lately appeared there. He then
moved, that the report of the survey be referred to a
Selth Committee, to examine into the merits of the
same, and report thereon, and that five of the Com-
mittee should be a quorum.
The other Orders of the Day were then read
and defer red. Adjourned to Monday.

T HEAT RE-ROna, DRURr-L AVE.

TIIIS EVENING will be prewntetl a New► Comedy called
THE MARRIAGE PROMISE.

Charaarrs by Mr. C. Lemble, Mr. Dwyer, Mr. TBsw-
ton, Mr. Honing:worth, Mr. Bannister, jun. Mr Palmer, Mr.
Pope, Mr. Puwoll, Mr. Purser, Mr. Evans. Mrs. Powell,
Miss Mellon, Mn.s Jordan, Mrs. Sparks, Mrs. Mai Mocks.
The Prologue to be spoken by Mr. Dwyer,
To which will be willed,
BLUE BEARD.

•
771EATRE-R0191., COVENT-GARDEN.
EV F.NING will be performed a New Comedy called
JOHN BULL;
Or, AN ENGLISHMAN', FIRE-SIDE.
Tu which will he added,
A TALE OF MYSTERY.
• A New Musical After-Enact is is preparation, calleJ The
Fair Fugitives.
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TO CUR RESPONDENTS.
Carreortaent4. are requtsted to a(ltlreis their Communications
thig Paper to the Editor, at the Office, Salia'itirpaquare.

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON,
SATURDAY, ARIL 23.
The 3 per Cent. Consols, which lift off on
Thursday at 1;71, opened-Testerday morning at 66:1,
and fell in the course of the day to 65.1, and were, at
the close of the market, 66. This depression of 1
per Cent. was generally imputed to the explanation
which the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave
in :he House of Commons on Thursday night,
of the communication promised on Tuesday last.

We thought at the time that the explanation would
make an unfavourable impression upon the Funds,
but we did not think the OM would have been so
great. This anxiety to repress the order of the public
mind might manifest his caution and delicacy; but
it could be no proof of an encreaseel confidence in
peace. As such, therefore, its effeCt, if any, must
be to lower the Funds, but nobody supposed that
the depression would have been so great. Various
.other causes were consequently assigned for the fall
in the course of the evening. It was reported, that
some Dutch East Indiamen were stopped in the Chan-
nel by our men of war. It was also reported, that
ten more sail of the line were ordered irrm_!diately
into commission. Neither of these reports, how-
ever, appear to have had any foundation, nor to
have produced any effect upon the Funds.—
Indeed, they seem to have followed, and not
preceded the fall of the Market. The de-
pression is, we believe, to be imputed to the
CHANCELLOR of the Exciirour It's observations on
Thursday evening, accompanied with the circum-
stance of 'he delay of Mr. HUNT 1:12, the Messenger,
expeCted from Paris with the final answer of the
Fiittsr CONSVL. The weather has been very boi-
sterotis for these three or four days past, and it ap-
pears, from our Dover letter of Friday, the wind
was so violent no rt:ssels could attempt to cross
the Channel. Some speculators consider this a suf-
ficient cause for the Messenger's delay ; but ethers
fear, that some difficult:es have been started up in
the way of that answer, which the CHANectLoa of
the EXCHERVER manifestly expected before this
time, when he hoped on Tuesday to make a com-
munication to the House in a few days. The ins.'
portance of the dispatches would, no doubt, tempt
Mr. Ht-NTen to make all possible expedition in his
return, and try every possible means to effect it.

No Paria Papers have been received since Sunday

The Duke of BEDFORD, and Sir H. FETHER•
STONHA dined yesterday at five o'clock at
Brooks's Subscription House, in St. James's-street ;
and at seven o'clock, they set off in a post-chaise
and four for Dover, on their way to Paris. They
were attended by the Courier, who went with Mr.
Fox to Paris.-2 His Grace', travollimg landau with
five servants in it, left town a few hoars before.

The preparations in fitting out the ships, Scc. seem,
within these few days, to be very much relaxed. The
orders which have been received are not so urgent,
and indeed every department is comparatively pas.
site. There have been no gangs from the ships of
war this week to interrupt the noaurnal perambula-
tions jf proteaed men, and render themselves ob-
noxious to the inhabitants.

On Wednesday last his MAJESTY, after the Levee
at St. James's, signed an Order in Council, extend-
ing the bounties for seamen to enter, from the 30th
inst. to 3 Ist of next December.
A detachment of thirty men, four officers, four
serjeants, and two corporals, from the Rith regi-
ment of foot, arrived in Athlone on the 11th inst.
for the purpose of being instrufted in the cannon ex-
ercise. Similar detachments front every regiment
of fcpt in the western distritl, arc under orders for
the same place, for the like purpose.

Friday se'nnight fifty-four ammunition waggons,
la.len with military stores, were sent from the Castle-
yard of Dublin to the country.
Commodore Hoop gave, on the morning of the
lit of February, on board his Majesty's ship Bien-
&ins, dejeuni to Lord and Lady SF.APORTH
and their family, to Lieutenant-General GRIN.
r i so') and his. Lady, and other distinguished guests,
who were received: under a salute from; the ship,
with her yards manned, and were entertained with
music, and every refreshment which could render
their a patic visit pleas:ant and agreeable.
It is mentioned, among the articles of Faris news,
in the liambuqh Correspondent, that among others, an
English Officer, wearing t:ie insignia of the Turkish
order of knighthood, was lately presented to, the
FIRST Corm t, at one of his public audiences, by
Lord Witrowuru. BONA ID Aa TE asked the officer,
" where he had earned that honour ?" "At Abou-
kir," replied the officer. BON AP A RTE answered not,
but turned away with looks strongly expressive of
dissatisfaElion.

A letter from Stockholm, dated March 29, says,
" The Secretary of the Court, CHARLES BOREM AN,
whose arrest was mentioned some time back, ap-
pears, by the papers found in kis possession, and now
acknowledged by himself, to have been a chief in-
strument in a very extensive and dangerous plan,
all the parts of which, however, are not yet disco.
vered. Ile was member, it seems, of a secret so-
ciety or order, which took its rise in the South of
Germany, but spreading so rapidly as to draw too
much attention, it was found convenient to change
the name and places of meeting. The view of the
order seems chiefly political ; they pretend to unli-
mited power over all Governments ; and all the
members are sworn to strid secrecy, and to implicit
obedience te•ualcaown chiefs."