The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-10-30 00:00:00

cilx•l ER.

GletivLemvu—A* it is not my intention to co,tTaitatiTa
to She above ishji•es, I think it doe to persons so highly re-
siwetable am yourselves, In myself, and to the county at
large, in wale the reasons which inflvenced me in de-
r lining to subscribe, to a general fund, or In raise any separate
forte. At the preAent 1110111elli iii this neighbourhood, every
thing is spiiet and undisturbcil ; and had the existior force
of the comity been augmented only by private melbas:rip.
bone and efforts, I should have viewed the pro-
ceeilmg4 in Silence. giving no opinion as to its expediency
err ilisailvaotaze. Bust called upon, as I have incidentally
been, to lissi.t iu fou warding the object of the late rowdy
meeting, I cannot, on an occasion so public, avoid, in a
manner air politic, declaring toy reasons for the hue of con-
a„,.l 1 mean, slier slut &lib, ration, to adopt. Thoae Gen-
I him n of the Committee, with whom I have the h tttttt or and
happiness or being acquainted, will, I trio,t, do me the
justice to admit, Olt I am not a pri inn likely ill be into 11.
alien sitinfied that the occasion is a proper one, to
assist in any way in my power in maintaining Ike public
peace, and in snppursing the cretin and security of the
county, which must always mainly rest on the faithful ex-
ecution of the I "VS, and the preset welkin and 'prosperity of
our hap•pv tollniiilllloll. To form an impartial joilgment
of the upnraunn now before nie, I have examined recent events
nod ores' mere aisi 311 the heels racy in my power, and I
must beg leave to revert to cia 1.1111 local events cotton-led
with ilia<r succorrences. The Grand Jury of the Couuty,
at the late Maims, seeing tracts circulated, of a nature
to undermine our religious faith, and injure our form of
Gosertiturist, amorally eapreseed their itoligmint feelings
sot the eseesaion: it appears, however, from the result of
a late trial, dist these attacks on our religion are not
lardy to be countemancell by a British Jury, any snore, I
trust, than by a British people ; and I SIP also of opinion,
That our happy form of Government is as little in danger
from the wild, and (resiliently iwrnitious doctrines, main.
taiued and disseminated on the subject of our Constitution.
The natio', is WO MOHO enlightened to be misled by such
dangcrona theories. IVlietber the voice of Slit people be
sufficiently heard in the Commons House of Parliament, all
persons may be allowed, without criminality, not only to
doubt, hot In dispiste ; and may endeavour to correct what
They consider a defect in our system, by lawful no ails ;
but that Sisal object, in itself legitimate when puirsoell
constitationally, ought ever to be obtained by force, I
deo", as peremptorily, as I would peremptorily and steadily
resist it. The Parliament, it seems, is to he called tuge.
liter at an earlier period than usual; and, as we are Sold, lit
devise means fur palling down disaffect' . Ministers,
therefore, I conclode, mean so propose 14w* still stronger
than those that exist, for that purpose ; and this to lie allenspi.
est before any inquiry shall take place into the lisle 'hair...s-
ing transact at Manchester. Why the laws are to he se
siren:nil...tea, or the armed force of the country tin be pare.
nerrrfly Increased, I am at a losa at iweeent to discover; fur
whrther the late 4)1,1.801016s at Manchester were legal or
Hot, these permed hilly (taroks, iu enforcing a mongol, y
process, and protecting, If endangered, the prisons and
promo ty of the inlialiitiostc Before, then, recourse be hail
to extraordinary legislaiion, and extraordinary arming, it
may he advisable to inquire, whether She conduct of the
Magistracy has not been calculated rather to produce
than restrain unlawful combisistione on the part of
the people. Some of that Magistracy I have the plea-
sure of knowing, and snore honourable and ups ight per-
sons cannot exist. I mould at all limes rely on their lute.
grity ; and few things would rule awe miser, than that
llwy should suffer in their reputation, or iu any other way,
from the unfortunate event,' that have recently occurred
at Manchester. But to slide ur delay inquiry would only
injure them, while a full and fair investigation would,
doubtless, be what they would most desire. For myself, I
have little ilesibt but that the meetior at Manchester, of
the 10th of August, would have terminated as peaceably
as IkW in oilier parts of the country, where meetings of
the same descriptions have burn held, lus4 it not been fur its.
judieissos interference. What the immediate and ultimate sub-
ject of the persons calling such meetings may fp., 1 pretend
not to determine; but that, at all events, is a sillii•at of se-
parate conaideration. The whole affair then at 1.1 he sob.
milled, without reserve, to the investigation of impartial
committees, in Parliament, which will alum rive satisfaction
to the country—will alone save Parliament from the re-
proaches of those who think that it re-e( busts but imperfectly
the public voice. It is, lam aware, maintained by ruin.',
that it would be best to wait the d.civiun of the tribunals of
justice; bat, sunder the discouragement!, that have recently
occurred, one should Iliad a difficoli y in recommending per-
severance in such a comae, particularly ails r the result of
the inquest at Oldham—au Mimes, bold for the purpose of
inquiring into is char:N. of wilful murder, and which should
have been brought as a termination as speedily as a doe exami-
nation of witnesses would allow. It is said, in jostilicath iii. of
the extraordinary and alarming adjournment of the inquest to
a week after the meeting of Parliament, and the consequent
postponement of the verdict, that it was done as the desire
or the Jury. This, however, it is also said, they disclaim ;
but even had they expressed such a wish, the cause of it
should base been made known, in is manner the most distinct
and formal; and if, from indieposition of any of the Jury,
on the testimony of medical men, then as tittle delay as
possible should have been :Mowed to iitlerrupt the miters-as
of the inquest. If offences have been committed, let the
offenders be punished; and, at all events, let sis give sails_
faction to an anxious and inquiring nation. Before, then,
we stir a step towards 'igneous legislainits, or ntrnacing ar-
mament, it behoves us to itiquire whether our constissitlMllll
laws may out have soli. red voinethisug from those who
have :he guardianship of them in their own hands, and
whether, if that be the case, froth violation of ite sacred
bulwarks may not, in reality, ciente, if it has not already
created, a disposition to retaliate, where no intentions of
resistance before existed. If, however, contrary to my
expectatim • , there shoot.), indeed, appear a drti rininatioo,
opeuly rind distinctly acted upon, to overturn the Consti-
lotion of the country, I shall be ready to exert every missies
iu my power to meet and resist such spirit of hostility,
against what I conceive, in common, ilosibilesa, with the
great body of the nation, So be the most perfect form of Go-
moment with ulycli any country was ever blessed.

During the late war, I raised a corps of infantrv, and
subscribed, in various instances, to either corps, for the
protecli (((( of my country against • foreign enemy. May
God grant that I may never see the hour when I may he
compelled to do so against a domestic ore ! If, huwrver,
'old two.. - •