The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-03-12 00:00:00

vitivlLEGr. OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The solemn investigation of the important charge
matte by Tnumas GRADY, E.g. ligd,libt the lion.
WyNDIIAM QUIN, for proferring an annuity of
20e1. charged upon the profits of the office of
Cleo k of the Peace for the County of Limerick, as
e bribe to influence a certain nuailofr of votes in
election* for Knights of the Shire, commenced last
evening in the House of Commons. We had made
the most extensive mrangemelito for la)ing before
the public an accurate, and therefore impartial re-
port of the proceedings on this national subject,
which so eminently affects the dearest interests of
the community, but it has pleasril Mr. STUART
WORTLEY to interpose the authority of the House
corCuintutins, for the purpose of preventing these pro-
ceedings from being conveyed to the public through
the ordinary channels of the daily press. We, of
course, shall not presume to question the p ropiiety
of the Hou. Member's interference; it is sufficient
for us to know that he, or any other Member, can,
ut any time, exercise this discretionary power of
treating the publication of the proceedings of the
House as a breach of privilege, and must there.
fore acquiesce in his determiliation. Such a dia.
cretion, however, was nut exerciied on that memo-
rable and interesting occasion, w lieu the character
and conduct of the [hike of 1. 01M were under the
consideration of the Howie of Commons.

Without venturitog to express an opinion upon
the merits of the subject now unto-r investigation,
yet considering it a matter of high coastitutionel
importance, we cannot but feel considerable grati-
fication, that the House of Commons have entered
on it with so touch zeal and spirit. Before such
a tribunal it is impossible for the truth to remain
undircovered. The House was extremely crowd-
ed ; the most anxious and unwearied attention
seemed to prevail among the Members, and, whet
is still better, no pert), feelings appear to be en.
listed on either side. The examination of witnesses
commenced soot, after six o'clock, and continued
until some time after twelve. For their accom-
modation, and that they may be better heard, a
species of moveable bar was placed nearly in the
centre of the House, below which the witnesses
stood, and where also a short-hand writer was seated,
fur the porpoise of taking the questions and au-
ewers. This Gentleman's notes will he printed by
order of the House ; amid us Mr. STEAM` WORT.
LEY'a injunction will probably be dissolved at the
same period, our readers may be assured of finding
full report of the depositions of the witnesses in
this Paper. 'the hest witness called to the bar was
Mr. CAREW SMITH, a Barrister, practising at the
Irish bar, whose examination continued until near
eleven o'clock. The second witness was Mr. GOOLD;
a King's Counsel at the Irish bar, whose slattern ill
engaged the attention of the House until tome
time after twelve o'clock, when, on the fuel elf
Sir ROBERT WILSON, Ife further proceedings ins
this busintsl.ll were polllponrd 1111111 1111%

lu the course of 11r. CA REW I UN
rxauuna-
Lion I !Oki' Wlb read, iu Nhich it was toil meted t!i:st

Mr. Pram:GUAM 14441 gi tint an i:n the SUL-
Ct in elilittOVlT•y ; but Mr. Birn t:IrH 7.1 &dared,
ut whicii he was corrotiorateil Iry Mr. I'. Moons:,
that altliongli the matter had hers; proft.,iiiiially Irid
before Istin and Sir Alurrti:li PIGGHIr for their
opinions, as soon as it was perceived to relate to
or question of parliamentary 11,6911..4e, he and Sir
ARTHUR l'ionorr returned ihrir briefs, and re-
fused to express dity sentiment whatever upon the
subjeci.

The great expense of keeping BON APA RT E at
St. Helena, the severity of restraint to which he is
subjected, mud the iiirerrst excited by his extraor-
dinary boletus and fortune, have been long familiar
topics of discussinn. The present policy of the
French Govercuient in calling to via aid so many of
favourite Gentrsis and Statesmen, bred in his
amp and his closet, has, in a particular manner,
dirt cted the publie attention to his unhappy situa-
tion. People now ask, with more than usual
esrnestneas and confidence, if the King of FRANCE
peen 110 danger in these children rood champions of
Jacubitiism, if the Revolution appears in his eyes
a burnt-out volcano without the elements to nourish
a new fire, what has Europe to fear from • milder
and more Ittemaile treatment BON AP 4RTF. ?
few months back, the tnerciless advocates for his
strict imprisonment might have cal the distinguish-
ed coiniranions of 144 arms and his cninljntors in
council are sighing for his 'Fumy have fallen
with him, mid would expect to never their lost ele-
twain on his return. Hot that plea esti Ire urged 110
longer. The ft until,. of:41 partisans of BONAPARTE
are now in power ; their star Kara how the as-
cendant, mid In. presence 15 not necessary to their
ambition. They have too moth sense not. to choose
a log rather than a stork for their King, and wont('
(aturally prefer their present service, which is per-
feet freedom compared with their situation, whether
ns Leg's:ators or 31iiiisiers, under the despotic rule
of their firmer master. Thus every succeeding
day kis reduced the danger apprehended from the
enlargement of BONAPARTE, and yet there has
been DO telliVnloll in the regime of his imprison-
ment at St. Helena, acd he continues to be watched
there 551:11 us much vigilance as if a revolution
iu Fracce, with all its origiod horrors, would be
the certain conseluence of his escape. By this
statement it is not meant to recommend be should
be set at liberty; but as death has stripped him of
many of his partisitits, and the vicissitudes of fortune
have still further contributed to thin their ranks,
he has ceased to lie the formidable man he was, and
thus thorn of his strength, eau be no longer contem-
plated with the same terror which he once excited.
The question then i 4, if BONAPARTE has been
plated in St. Helena, not for punishment, but for
sire keeping, does nut his situation admit of some
amelioration under existing rircumstrinces ? and if
so, 15 it nut unworthy of a just, liberal, and gener-
ous nation to persevere in imforcing en unnecessary
reseed) ? There is wroth( r motive, which, though
perhaps not so strong as a sense of justice. is de-
serving of some little consideration. The pre-
sent plan for the safe kre4ing of BONAPARTE at
St. Helena costs bawl. ell 4 and 500,000/. a year,
and surely if economy tan have any influence upon
our conduct, it is worth while to consider whether •
mode and place of cootinement may not he devised,
which may ensure his safe keeping at a less expense
than tin. enormous sum ? Some interesting infor-
mation on this subject will he found in a work
entitled Letters from the Count de Las Casas, just
published, with an official correspondence between
him and Sir linotost LOWE.

We have received Paris Papers of Sunday and
Nlorirlay last. We can collect from their contents,
that politics are beginning to he the fashion in the
gay metropolis of France, and as the ✓uneaul des
Debuts asserts, that ." even the fi,.e arts, the
theatre, and romances, interest less than the pro-
ceedings iii the Chambers, and the speeches of the
Members."—" This (observes the tame paper) is a
sign of political life," and no donltt can be entertain.
tit that no country can long hope to enjoy political
liberty, unless the people guard it with a lively and
uniform anxiety. It seems that the recent discussions
an the Law of Electio►s have given birth to some
anxiety. bow which prolific source, as might be
expected, have arisen a thousand phantoms of
danger, in the shape of insurrections and revolu.
hour. In a representative Gavel ;;;;; ent, silly and
injudicious propositions must sometimes be expect-
ed, excising the warmest feelings of she people;
but where discussion is free, these ebnllit►ons of
party seal will soon evaporate, and France, as she
becomes nanre familiar with her present system,
will cease to tremble at every symptom of popular
agitation. It WAR reported w Paris that the west
of France was in a stale of insurrection; sod a
writer in a periodical Paper, called L'Horwase Geis,
was act alarmed with the intelligence. that in his
terror he fancied he already saw " France bound
hand said foot, given up to her croulest enemies."
This and similar rnmours were circulated with great
peitwseratice, but it is almost unnecessary to add,
they are without the abler est fou►nlation. France
was never ►n a more tranquil state. and never
evinced a greater probability of preservica, the bless-
ing of repose. That a certain undefined feeling
of alarm prevails cannot be denied, and we, in con.
sapience, find the prices of the fluids reduced.
The F►ve per Cents. were oil Saturday 65 1..15 c.
Batik Slot k, 1,487 I. 50 c.

The new Anibinsedor from France is expected
to uiiice ui u Icw t(o)e.

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