The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-10-21 00:00:00

•
being exchanged. aud with all their inurauai-
tion and their • stares, together with their
rigid*, sacred mid pr Irene. The excuse our Cunt-
mender gives for ihi.. Convention is, the great ad-
velitage of clearing Portugal of these enceinte, end
thereby enabling the English army to act in con-
cert with our other allies. Notwithstanding this,
however, seven weeks have expired, anti we-do not
:tear of their acting with our allies against France;
but, on thecontrary, we merely hear of this Mimi-
c-id army being restored to France, and thereby
enabled to go and attack Spain. I'll risk any one,
wheal he read the intelligence of the glotions vic-
tory at Vitneirs, whether hr would have stipulated
for any thing else than the total sub ject.on of that
army ? 11 so, then, are not our linpre blasted, and
our expectations disappointed ? Pries it not be-
come then a matter lit for inquiry? Undoubtedly
it is and it will be therelbre necessary to address Ilia
Majesty upon more poi...s than nue, namely,
whether any intrigue nr any unknown adviser pre-
vented a proper person being appointed Coin-
initialer of oar Expeditiou? whether proper in-
struction,' were given to those who were seed? or
%theater there wan a want of buttering artillery, I
stores, necessary for a siege ? These are points ne-
cessary to be inquired into ; and, Gentlersen. the
Citizeus of London have already presented au Ad-
dress to His Majesty upon this subject, worded in
warm, but in loyal and moat constitutional hau-
vine. (Hear ! hear ! hear !) As a warm and
firm admirer of the Home of Hanover. I did read,
I. um* confer% with winch surptitle, The Answer
returned by Hi. Majesty to that Address. It is
one whirl' I think every person, who feels as I do,
must deplore; for it is the enemies of the Crown
who Moat can approve of it. As it is the answer
of Ministers, and not of His Majesty, 1 shall beg
knee shady to advert to it. Oue cannot help con-
sideriug it rather as an answer suitable to the
times of the James's stsd Charles's. when a passive
obedience to the Crown had some advocates, than
' an answer coining from the throne at this time,
when the just rights of the King and the people
Os so well understood. It goes uu to state, that
Ni. Majesty is never backward in inaktag inquiries.
V 0 JI ter* by this mean to tell us, that any iii-
quiries that were instituted as to Buenos Ayres, or
the retrograde march front Dunkirk, or the unfor-
tunate expeditions to the Helder and to Ferrol,
were salieieut to uttisfy the cnutitry for the trea-
sure spent, aad the blood spilt upon these occa-
sions ? Or, Gentlemen, do they mean to tell us,
dist en further inventigetions were deemed neces-
sary to be made into these failures, betimes the
people never met together to desire there should be
eery IVhen we sow meet for such a purpose,
what has been the consequence ? It amounts en-
tirely to this answer, 4. Pay your taxes to the Go-
vernment of the country, and come to me only
with congratulatory Addresses as often as you
thuds proper ; but with respect to intermeddling
with tiny of the affinity of Government, I denier you
will oat tined( of it." Many of this assembly have
lived iu other times, as well an myself. We have
lived in the reign of George 11. Did he or his
Ministers ever make such an answer to leis people
upon a similar occasion P No; the answer as to
Admiral Byrig was totally ditlereut.—George 1.1.
. had the feelings of a Monarch; and in illueration
of this, I may allude to an anecdote of hit reign.
A Itlioagli his son, the Duke of Cumberland, had,
at therrattle of Culloden securely placed the Crown
upon his family, his fit her would not see him, and
would not employ him more, after': he had signed
the tenurial' Convention of Closter `even, by a iiith
38,000 Hatioveriaus Inid down their anus, and
were dispersed into different quarters is caution-
Enema. The King. in (Mitre so, although he must
have felt as a parent, yet rieted es a Sovereign.—
Perhaps His Majesty! present Ministers thought
that by sending such an Answer to the Citizens of
laehlon, is would be the means of preventing any
flame addresses coining up, end strangling them
in their birth, for fear of incurring His Majesty's
displeasure. From the numerous meeting, this
der, it is et idea that that A uswer has had no such
effect in the city of Westminster; rind. I here, will
not have any in any other part of the country.—
flawing already. Gentlemen, encroached too lunch
upou our time, I shall now conclude with pro-
posing the hue ,f conduct which ought to he !me-
taled upon this occasiou. My friend Mr. Clarkson
will rend the resolutions; sit address will afterwards
he founded upon them. When they are read, they
will afterwards he pint, one by one, so th it any
gentleman may lime nn opportunity of coming lee-
ward and stating his eentimeats or objections to
them.*

Mr. Clarkson accordingly read the Resolutions;
first collectively, and afterwards singly.
Mr. FINNERTY nett addressed the meeting:—
" I should out have ventured so early to o.fer my-
self to your attention, if I were not impiessed with
the necessity of proposing some further Resolu-
tions than those you have just heard. They are
defective iu two points: first, I do not think they
convey, in terms sufficiently ardent and determin-
ed, the feelings of an insulted and angry nation ;
secondly, the remedy they propose is inadequate
for the evil of which we complain. They merely
propose that such an inquiry should take place as
to Ministers may seem meet. Who, I would ask
you, Gentlemen, are the Ministers of the present
day ? Are they men who can expect your eunti-
&lice, or are they men from whom we can expect
a fair and impartial investigation. or one that 13
likely to meet the real authors of this disgraceful
Convention ? 1 siy Na-- (No ! No! seas here re-
iterated throughout she Ilalt). The only manner,
Gentlemen, by which you can get an iurestigation,
is to call upon His Majesty to assemble the Par-
liament. A Court of Inquiry, or a Court-Martial,
can only meet the military offenders; but that is
uot enough for us. Sinee it imposers that the mili-
tary officer did not understuild s lie business upon
winch he was sent, but was totally ignorant of
every thing miceseary to be known, it is evident to
in. that the Ministers themselves are the principal
culprits. (Hear! Hear! Hear') Who is the
mite that ought to he responsible for its failure ?
He who had the power to make a proper provision
for such an expedition. It behoved him therefore
to take care that provision shonld be made to
givird agiiiiist the necessity of submitting to ouch a
t tiiiventinii. The Miaisters have hitherto remained
like row inls, but have now started up to insult the
representatives of the people, the Citizens of Lon-

though .
considerable i., .r. we not iutoodtscaout be-
ing somewhat foreign from the subject more imme-
diately wider discussion. ss.l4reg leave to express
my regret that a divtioguished individual is absent,
one who would bare roiyiported these resolutions,
and one who has already pmved hiniseit worthy of
the attachment of an assembly of honest English-
teen--I mean Sir Francis Burdett. tam sorry
feelings of private friendship should have prevented
him from attemling his public ditty. The only
consolation for his absence is, that we witocss the
pretwiice of a toun, who, for the period of thirty
years, a hile corruption and terror tended - •
and abridge your rights and liberties,
io their support, with taleuts that might
tify the boldest Bights of imagination in 1
iti his praise. I alp sure you will ell agree
in these sentimeuts, when I mention f
Sheridan is the individual I allude

/Mach applause end hazzaing..l—To
think the people of this country ought
with admiration. One act alone, although
nothing else had occurred, ought to entitle them to
the approbatiob of the world. They have com-
menced their resent contest with the Ruler of
France, by getting rid of their domestic foes. They
got rid of their silly, stubborn old Kiug, who"—
(Here loud uninnars, huzzas, hisses, and applause',
issued from all quarters of the Hall. in Po much,
that Mr. F. could proceed nisiterther.)—lle then
pro posed, that the followingßeantious should be
added to those already submAlmtpit,thelal. t •
Resolved, ••
•
.
That we seaside*, as not kosesd pas canon oh*,
Lett to the Rol,. the sysitite that pre-
vails with willtorT provistio,
That the ershelails elaretatrid iaf that slam arise eat Or
the ent'eettr iels•eft• sormsleisistees to poorer rash sad is.
Moser te mark and asprissee. . , •
Ma ebb tdidssidel radii& roam 41,. circumstances which
IMP • tits/.4•04111, Prollanteatiry Iliedresee. slither
,* their imitmemt.
This Pralimisman see the oatmeal result of thee
peens* elate of the espassoissius of die people is Paeitt
most.

That owing be tab stets d tit rrarvealstioa, a Mluistor.,
is amble lie soseasity, ler Se purpose, as it is termed, pf
=Perlissont, mad stream me tittioveransest, 'To
tie *AB let . ley cemplying With the
sod ciesPesdidse im 'Owes et the great descriptive of
rata eisty. tie lesessegb per ipeictere : loam it appears
impessibh Sat ay Mama cam be an hawse mem seil
tiallhe. 411141116 Partisismit tame pace, ao llama
Man alallit to breallt a Mlisietru
Tiff Sees h mo security siairst tits froleist rejetitisa
lidiE"..ais am Se pemparaqtaft Or 'bops fur
en t raker of tale metaminses.
is At Ceememe• Itesuset Partiesest
- le Assii.
didsde s Parliamentary llotlinri, lb, people have
so epielsof seessidids sholtberty they Isms la" se abatis •
of Maisie. filmesiptlee.

This animations's& or MUNIts to lie original Re-.
Noltiti.in+ having been prod preeious to their •
being severally teed. Mr. LAMM/ proceeded toh
subunit them one by one to the sense of the Amelia. 7
hly, es follow :
I.lte.,dvaed~ That The Catrarr of Semeabw die ad, giving'
the account cieVhe victory gaisseil elm
,71irablautes,
anJ the As", snider Mt dig:lll,44h
Army, althiwit half 1110 r OWN , lad us to
respect the initatulitiseal seersaMK44o.,lllo4ll.. • •
3. 1. hat. se air utter seeeinishitti The Peewee of the ,
of Septeritherinfereseil ow.enet •tuellentfulos hulloes atm
eluded. Works' the omen to miters Jr, canto lie British
vowels, with their artillery, asswesitlesi,
3. Thet the Coeseetkin GllighiTeW Qui weiherotion-
experiatiusa, asd ditaggeietutthe liest types .(the .o •
-
lion.
4. That we agree with His tit tl is oot ens-
winoet with the piaci** of Drit •
justice' to pronouuee
jadgrurat before urrestigation.
.s. That *an humble Address be geointetta to His %-
I jest', raptorial his se mite &proper eat 'gelato Inquiry
lute the earns that led hi the Coereptius, and to britsit to
lionielmeeet the delimpswity . it suy, however exalted ta Laub
mod wren le political talleesee.
Upon the reading of the third itesolutiOn.
Mr. Hewt.ittes proposed. as an amendment.
thet instead of the words disapyointed the hopes
and expectations of the nation, ' there should be
introduced " that this Convention has entailed ir-
remediable evils upon the Continent. and everlast-
ing digrece upon this country. " This, however,
pot meeting the approliatiOn of many in the A.sem-
lily. the amendment was withdrawn.
Upon the fourth resolution being iropmed,
Mr. SHERIDAN presented himself to the notice of
the audience, who received him, nr 13•41441, with the
loudest acclamations and marks of approbation ;
and when silence was procured, he addressed them
Gentlemen. I am so confident you feel
I would .40.'e Ishii the (;entleineu upon my right
Minclois to the propriety of the conduct of Ministers
and of the King's Officers undergoing a thorough
investigation in that Assembly to which 1 belong,
that it will not become me to dilate much upon the
present co:corium I cannot, however. hear this
fourth resolution' urged by the worthy mover,
giving my opinion to you fairly and frankly,
that it does tend to countenance that aspersion upon
the City of London, which His Majesty's Ministers
have dared to throw upon it. (thee! bear! hear
Before I comment upon that resolution, I'll say a
word or two upon the Milliner of Sir Francis
Burdett. While I regret that absence. I mac elk°
venture to state to conviction, Viet it is wring to
nothing lint some honourable and justifiable mo-
tive. Looking to the conduct of Sir Francis,
during the whole course of lust Session, 1 can safely
aver, that he never uttered one word, nor evinced
one principle, whirls I was not proud to stead by
him and support. I must notice, also, the com-
pliment paid to me I•.? my friend upon my right
bond—he has been pleased. Gentlemen, to make
panegvric upon me to a greatsr extent than I can
pi vend to merito--(No, se. no, seas reiterated by
nll.)—Ciestlemen. since yon, too, see Pledowl t"
compliment me. I may in return say. that during
the long course of my political life. or so long

ISOM
4

adequate ropresentanou,
honest man should accept of such * situation, to-
tal a reform in Parliament takes pesee, I most
beg leave to dissent from this Resolution. I think
the Geutletnau who said so goes too fan. When it
is considered what is the influence of a Minister in
l'arliament, I know that Parliamentary Reform
never can have e • chance of being carried without
the efforts of an honest Minister to support the
prupoaition. When he speaks so. I would ask hint
to look to the experience we haw streaky had of
that ministerial influence. Let bine look Ile the
isms of that Rweat and glorious question, Which

•D-
It DO

amongst
last you got
one Minister more honest than the riot, Mr. Fits,
it was carried by a great majority. I must there-.
fere observe, that this fourth keg()lotion eanoot
have toy approbation, as I wish that we should
here be Ull&IIIISOUS ; for if ever there am a ques-
tion) that sees* to set all pellucid differences out
of view, I think it is the present one winds hos
called us boo this day. We are mot here no too •
onfortsinototo occasion; we are aid heft todsts•
slider tbpropriety, not of !mooringty, the. Constro.
tha•gh inzie et teseeitieg, bur
indiebtaa 'tit
sisomost.of him no in •att. "Milt
• of =sat
reiseptradiog its Redo gal. The eitiastiotittLiss.
dos bete done nothiug but. what Us•fteisight to
do. The "bare told His Majesty that it io• a
di •Ciiiireation, ewe osiglat— to the
twits-18U etato. Vtgree with war mliailty friend
er my.sZ. that the ..tddress lams tho LIT of
sotgo to the extent the evil •roquises.
train* that Itie Mutiny Act is a raolumry As/, eo
aira asonOsg army is deemed eroessory in the
iv:44'olly. and 'therefore in so far let it reeds that
tatairrisiat •Pli never allow that, to say °sort
of the kind. authorised by that act, I ma to Mist
the hower and reputation of the Country,• las so
far I will agree with him, that there is no reenical
redress to be procured for such evils, accept by
Parliamentary Reform. Such answers are not the
speedup*, of the King, but of the Ministers, end
there must be responsible for them. What
itibeionsomety upon the present °minim ! The
of Leaden complain, and the King's Minis-
ters vesture% tell them, " that there is no need of
..tleeir issisirpOiiiisso to ten.ios i the King of his duty."
This is what I object to; us, 1 say, that the mere
oaa•iiluity of the City ought tivhave been lame re-
itsected' by Ministers. There were present at that
ICetOetil Mr. Quin, Sir Wm. Curtis, and many
Sker "'earthy and ahie Common Councilmen and
ATderineu.
,who were unanimous ; and, therefore,
'there can. be no pretence for saying that it was a
party tfpots these ground., then, I
aver, that, an insult upon the Crty of I.nis-
Octio and even upon the kingdom at large. I re-
, peat, , the 4 it is not now our duty to enter at large
upon thesiihject of Parliamentary Reform, but when
thir prOper occasion comes, I trust I shall not be
]band deficient in doing my duty,in that particular,
stewards the City of ‘Vestininster and the Conon".
On the preiwiit occasion I hope there will he urn-
iiimity : and that, therefore, you will nut press asty
revolution which is furcigti to the subject iminedt-
atele sit issue."
Mr. Sheridan seemed inclined to pursue the sub-
ject further, but by the rioleut exertion lie used, in
order to make himself heard by the crowded as.
seiebly, he was suddenly taken ill, and was per..
.Waded by his friends around him to cease speaking,
in order to take sonic refreshment.

Mr. IVI9IIART then withdrew the 4th Resolution,
in consequeuce of what had fallen so ably from the
last Speaker.
Mr. Powea--" I offer myself to the attention of
this respectable meeting of my fellow-citizens, as
strongly impressed as any man amongst you pith
the necessity of demanding, iu a constitutional
spirit, the most impartial and the most complete
luvestigation of the causes which led to the dis-
graceful Convention at Cintrn. But I must con.
fess that the Resolution which the respectable pro-
poser has now submitted, falls short of that deci-
sive character vrhieli. I contend, the nature of the
object itself demands, and which it behoves
the indignant feelings and independent spirit of
the inhotsitants of Westminster to assume and as-
st. The necessity of Parliamentary inquiry into
this transaction, has been, is my mind, en ably
stated by the Gentlemen who preceded me
in this fit-eiission, but particularly by the Right
tionostrable Gentleman (Mr. Sheridan) on my
right; that it appears to me almost unnecessary to
do aught else, than to follow up his arguments by
the introduction of a specific resolution 'or
amendment to that effect. Still.there are some
ohotrvations wh:ckit, ji. *avowable for me not to
submit to your Consideration. Is there, I ask,
aiviongst you, a litiln-who, in the sincerity of his
conviction, sill say beihre the world, that he can
contidwintthe present servants of the Crown for an
impartial inquiry ?—; Nose I Near n—They may
indeed iiatikie you a ith the outward shew of inves-
tigation.'bert it is fully more sticcestfailly to defeat
that ena'is dr4inhailahlial justice.—lneas ! Hear /.1
—lf such be youropihion of Ministers, and what
other opinion comma:salable and disinterested men
hare 2 I contend that it is to Parliamentary In-
gni ry your hover and objects ought to be directed.
I am not sanstutoe enough to state that the House
Commons will he free from Nliuisterial influence ;
but this I will ever contend, that t is there, oral

•
' • . . .. .
•
dna, v/"..0 hove itroody admired Moil**, epos tor voids 000ki in baud la thellosoo•ui
this vubjeet. These men who •de wet••••nospect nom by those who • were plead So Wooer Ise.
themselves do not deserve to be reepoeild by others. with tbeir laze-06000 they liaised geese wok* 4 i
They have now different people to deal with, oun,,vitaing price, 'we not upon this eolith so beano
they have the Citizens of Westminster to .imeset . bisictA 'piety to-elibistP tit the people,or WWI OW
them. • •Aktiough I have go kind of alkalis* fery.propokqiiiis ;bat .4cdflftl tend to ab • -
the cerponstion of Loud" yet I coeval bow .rigishif ofikujure 4itiliffertini.—(Hear, Agee f) a
osteaWshed they have been treated soWe t bon De hvolasd.ilisait it ii entirely in vain for you tri adopt
ktivit
tear of contradiction w , „knee', iii is as tintsc:fieegiutiAnt sii•long as there is a want of an
Hutch talent in the uf as iu adequaD4q Atetion in !'arliantent." (Ties f
the present Cithitue er . iighip.d. are. into $1 ex' ed time epee the Ilestings.l u 1 ay
souse individuals 'tionet*it '', ft•Wwiefr of • the Irate, too, (motioned Ur. Meriden ;) and let that be
highest eonsitiseatieb.”- Mete Mr. Viiniortv catered pettlibisset at any titteire period, and 101 l support it
into a comparison with, Dud anioniiiatien of, certifies •moth •a* my heart and soul; but when I hear it
intlividiuds of Ilie 11; oainsao Quo& with amain- eaid,'Diet there cannot Lenny honest Minister, an-
others of the Cabinet, which,. although it excited tit there be an adequate representation; or that no
considerable laughter, we do not intooducatios be- honest smut should accept or such a situation, un-
. . . •

... 110 restrain will ever rsdound to thehenour-I-of those who
stood firm carried it. and to :bat Parliament (corrupt its
it fully juo. many other instances) which was the mesas of
a speakieg their eisseyinjg it: I mein the tleestinb ef the
ree with me Abolition of the Slave "Trade. Upon that poise
that Mr. yon bud the precedent-of inelfeetnal effort* hiving
Jude to.— been used for a •shnilar purpose in other Perlis-
, Spain I melds, during ether ationnistratrons, and amongst
Olt to look others, hat of Mr. Pitt ; but when at lost yeu/ot