The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-10-31 00:00:00

I

ITESTMIN STEM MIMING.
A numerous meeting or the friends of Mr. Paul,.
EleClors of Westminster, yesterday dined at the
Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand ;
bit FRANCIS BURDETT in the Chair.
When the cloth was removed, the health of His
Majesty was proposed from the Chair, and drank
' with en,huliastic applause. Sir Francis, then gave,
The Independent Elellors of Westminster, with
three times three.
Sir FRANCIS Boar:seri. then rose, and said :
' •00 Gentlemen, I never in the whole course of my
life rose narsre &mildly to perform my duty to the
public r never did 1 feel a more sincere satisfattion,
than in proposing the health of my Honourable
Friend near me, Mr. Paull, in the most sincere and
manly manner. I shall not detain you by any un-
necessary comments, but briefly state to you a few
ohservattons, which, from their unanswerable ten-
dency, I am confident will meet your unanimous
and rational acquiescence. In the advertisement of
your late representative, Lord Gardner, he
fully assures you of the impossibility to fulfil
the duties of his profession, at the same time
with those of a representative of the people.—
In applying the natural conclusion, from this ac-
knowledgment, to the case of the gallant Admiral
who now seeks your suffrages, though I most since: • I y
hope not to be misunderstood, yet I must ins:sr,
that the only situation where an English Admiral is
improperly seleCted, is where you appoint him to
the performance of duties, which it is perfeEtly out
. of his power to execute ; farther; that the dig.
0 nified trust of being the representative of the
people. is the only possible situation, where a
gallant Of is, in any degree, liable to be found ,
hostile to the liberties, inoependence, and true in- 1
'`,(2tetests of Britons. On the gallantry and merits of i
et Samuel Hood, I could with pleasure expatiate. I
Was the objet of his wishes any marked token of
re,oeit, any reward in consequence of his renowned
exertions, and acknowledged valour, I am coo-
vinced there is not amongst the Independent Elec-
tors of Weitminster, one man unwilling, but, on
the contrary, rather minus to grant it. But the
present ohjee at which he aims, is no sinecure office ;
it cannot be deputed : it is not less important, in the
exercise of its &ties, than that profession to which
• the Gallant Admiral is so honourably attached, ad-
mitting of no absence, and incapable of no further
delegation. Ina word, it is that duty which an Ads
mita!, who is animated with a desire of devoting
himself to the service of his country in his profea-.
sional chariater, cannot psi form My Lord Gard.'
. set has bequeathed, as a legacy to his country. the
necessity of not committing, to his 'professional
brother, the exercise of that trust which is incon-
tinent with that path of honour he has already
trod, and to the advancement of which, his pre.
genre and exertions are still turthe• waiting
In not supporting the gallant Admiral, there can-
not be any personal dislike, as it• arises frost that
experience which the eondua and lens trage of your I
late representative fully elucidates. Having draw" I
your attention.to two C...did:hes, I will briefly adv.
vert to the pretensions of the third Gentleman.-,s
My opinion of his ineligibility is already pu slisheds
but, again, I ['WWI retrain from expressing my,
conviCtion, that the Treasurer of the Navy is not a i
• fit Casidishnitior a frea..achgWirsi, sad eacarrgit
• people; tech as, lam confident, the Electors of West-
minster wiil prove themselves. Now, Gentlemen.
I claim your attention to the pretensions of Mr.
. Paull—a. Gentleman who, though isolated and un-
connened, has, in the very opportunity Be has
given to you of "%etching your unbiassed judg-
ment, some strong appeals to your ardent support.
' But his merits are nut restritted or confined to that
individual inducement. No, he has proved to you,
what one honestly sincere Member of Parliament
can effeCt ; that unsupposted by party or influence,
he hes evinced, in this period of political apostacy,
an unparalleled perseverance in prosecuting public
oppressors, in !ringing before the tribunal of the
eituntry, the misdeeds and misgovernment of men,
most powerfully proteßed ; and this patriotic con-
-4,1a he has displayed under circumstances the most
discouraging, and with an earnestness which few
men would dare to exhibit. To whatever, in the
shape of expedient, trick, or device, either open or
underhand, it rias possible to resort—to all these
have the opponents of Mr. Paull resorted, for the
purpose of creating insurmountable obstacles, or of
Mama :26:1g him from the pro:sedition of this work
of national justice. When those failed m their re-
: spe..sf!ive effeete, and the perseverance of this Gen-
tleman could not be prevented, one fortunate alter-
native remained in the dissolution of Parliament.
i I d• not pretend to assert, that this was the only
=olive ait i Ministers for adopting the measure ;
tbut I most sincerely declare my conviaion, that one
, or the strongest inducement, in their adopting this
unespetff.d measure of Parliamentary dissolution,
was merely to get rid of Mr. Paoli. Here. then,
• 11124 one of rhe strmageit reasons why the Elstelors
of the independent city of Westminster, when it
was ascertaieed that Mr. Paull could not, from an
unj irrifiahk inflaence, procure a scat for his two-
pence, or his money, should give to that Goad,.
man a free, incorrupt, and energetic support. Pro-
acribed as he was. in the AR orprosecuting a great.
public all:ged Isliti.piency, an inquiry of such im.
pot-finer, that he alone cotrid do it with effett ; it
was toile in such a city as that of the great, the pub-
lc ',Poked city of W. strninster, that he could find
a rock from which he could not be removed by all
the power and influence of the broad-bottomed 11d-
' ministration. Having thus stated to you some red.
RODS, etch, individually, sufficient to minute the sop; 1
port of the rational and disinterested, I shall now
take the liberty of submitting to your consideratiorki"'
a few resolutions, from which, as a criterion, You
may Easily estimate the pretensions of Mr. raull.,
and fully ascertain the line of coodne which he is
determined to pursue.—( Fo• Romlatious, see M.
Adetrlisement) —Nothing now remains, but to re-
comnmd to every gentlzman the oneself of re-
tiring the means in his power to further the great
obi-se of our wishes, arid thus to insure the success
of Ms. paull's EleCti• n, whose health 1 have now
the honourto repose."
The toast being drank with three—
Mr. PAULL rose and said-00 Although. Gentle.
men, I. have on former occasions delivered my opt-
Lion upon public questi ir.s. I never rose with stronger
emotions of diffidence than at this moment. I wit
not trespass opus your time by unnee.nary proles-

----- -
SO U 7 HA' ASK EL ECTIO N. '
Yesterday, the Eledion for Members to serve in
the ensuing Parliament for the Borough of South•
wark, commenced before Mr. Townsend, the De-
puty High Bailiff, in the absence of his superior,
Sir Watkin Lewis.
At eleven o'clock, Mr. Townsena proclaimed the
purpose of convening the Rieder', and read the
Writ directed to him by the proper Officer. for the
return of two Members to serve in Parliament. He
then announced the names of three Candidates,
namely, Robert Thornton, Esq. and the Right
Hon. George Tierney (late Members for South-
wark) ; and Sir Thomas Vinton, Bart.
Mr. SillAW immediately stood forward to propose,
for the choice of the ElePors, his Hon. Friend
Henry Thornton. The confidence he felt in the in-
tegrity and independence of that Honourable Gentle-
man. joined to hie coedua in four successive Parlia-
ments, in whit* he hail been chosen to represent the
Free Meatus of the Borough of Southwark, was
ground which he conceived fully to authorise him,
en the present occasion, to call for the confidential
suffrages of thou Eleaurs to return him to a fifth.
He felt coafiden: uses the Elettors themselves, con-
vinced of the fidelity with which his Hou. Friend
discharged his former trust, would determine them
now to renew it by. a fresh pledge of their confi-
dence ; and he felt that, henceforward, as he had
always done before, his Hon. Friend would dis-
charge that trust, unbiassed by the prejudices, and
uninfluenced by the diftates of any man or party,
to the hest of his independent judgment, for the inter-
ests of his country, as truly would become an English
representative. Sure he was, that if either rri the
Gentlemen who were his competitors on the pre-
sent occasion, had a second vote to dispose of, they
would ace:filly devote it in -favour of his Hon.
Friend. It was now 20 years since the Electors of
Southwark had first chosen him as their representa-
tive. Oa former occasions they had given him
their suffrages upon trust ; but they were now called
upon -to continue their support, on the ground of
experience, convinced as they must be. that he had
always sifted in consistency with ere principles he
first professed, and which first obtained for him
their confidence. He was a rusts not only attached
to their political principles. and a zealous friend to
our happy constitution, but a man conceded with,
and ettensively einvcrsaut in, commerce i and con-

. . .
ions ; lay erOfesaions, which, lamentably, is the his- : etrently thrbetter qualified to represent a weal^
tory of public .charafters, are too of tin indulged iii,) populous, sod commercial 'borough It peculiarly
without even the intention of being realised ; but 1 behoved, then.- that Boronit. by the.ehoiee of och
cordially and affeEtionately I feel mere than Lan- a representative, to set an eximyile to the great,
triage can express. My future conduct will, 1 ! populous, and independent boroughs throughout
trust, evince to you, that the honour you hay ! the kingdom. Mr. Shaw concluded, by recom-
done rate this day is not improperly conferred, and ; mending strongly, his Hon. Friend Mr. 'Thornton,
be assured, that whatever may be the issue of i to the choiceof the EledoftL
this national contest, for so I must call it, the re- , His recommendation was seconded by Mr.
collellfon of this day will be to me a greater source I Tnoasion, of the Borough ;'-and it was received
of ptide and sell-gratulation, than my return for with loud and general applauses.
Westminster, devoted as lam to that hononteble Mr. SWAltsr. next stood forward to recommend to
distinaien. I have appealecltcryour City, not upon the choice of the Eleaors his Right lion. Friend
pretensions, impudent, presomptuous.and audacious, I me. Tierneys_(wr,„,,„ and stun, oils lb cry of
as my opponents have stated. No ! I never should no Plattman ! tre taro-teat ! fermi As apes/481k.)
have attempted, single and unconneEted as I am, to The EleCtors were,' he said, thisclay sailed nn to
offer myself to your notice, before I was entitled by eiereise an invaluable franchise... andto discharge a
the strongest of all claims—the claim of proicrip- most important duty, in the choice of 'Representa-
tion ! proscribed tot conscientiously exercising my tives to serve them in Parliament. In'the exercise
juigmeat and duties on a great question of Lational of that right, and in the discharge of that great
im,•ort. Where could I have, with m duty, justice,
ullty, it was Most peculiarly incumbent upon
appealed, than to a city whose Electors are not to them, if they considered the present most critical
be bought, however an undue influence may be posture of affairs in England, end the disordered
indirectly applied. From the period 1 first heard situation of the Continent of Europe, to chose men
the name of the great and distinguished patriot, of talents and integrity, who well understood the
who now honours this Meeting with his presidency., political and commercial interests of the country—
I had fixed my determination to live and die men of cool jefteaing judgment, not carried away
in his 'principles. The effeas of calumny he has by chimerical notions, or a vain pursuit of empty poe
witnessed ; he has grappled with it in the breach, polarity, but who would do thew duty by tbe aliellee
only
,to insure •its complete defeat. I rejoice, that try and faithfully discharge the trust teposedilaidseus
we truly behold the man of the people ; that'llthis to the best of their judgment, uninfluenced by party.
crisis of universal peril, there is one charalter, by Such a man he would now reconunend to them. a man •
whose side, step by step, it shall ,be the summit of who,. integrity the bad tried (hisses), and who, b
my ansbition to attend. opt/being, awry inroad of car- their suffrages. had before been placed in that iisn„
ruption. arid every encroachment on the rights of the anon, where the sterling weight of his talents had
people ; and if liberty can be again proa:colly recommended Mds to the high station he now
known in this county, to be an active though humble fills rn the : public service of his country. With
assistant in restoring the Constitution of our fathers. Mr. Tierney it had been their fortune to strug-
To one point I distinctly pledge myself, that, if the gle, and to conquer together ; and he rested in
enemies of human liberty endeavour to put their de- the fullest confidence, that their experience of
signs in execution, and that the Habeas Carpets A!t, the integrity, the talents, and the services, of
the great birth right of Britons, and only security Mr. Tierney, would 'determine them now to re-
for our liberties, be again suspended (an event which new that confidence they had so repeatedly reposed
I most seriously apprehend), with my friend shall in him, by sending him again as one of their Re-
I be found, struggling for your dearest interests ; presentatives to Parl•ornent. He knew that hid
or, if defeated by means out of our power to con- flight Hon. Friend stood in the situation of what
trout, attending him to the scaffold. I must again was called a placeman.. Rut he would ask, ff the
return to you my most heatfelt and sincere thanks, acceptance of a pohlie office, in the service of his
ender the strong pre-possession, that the friends or country, and uta:er such as Administration as the
liberty will individually exert themselves, and that present, was to the considered n repedxch of his
the spark now kindled, will. under your cherishing political principles, Or tad: qualify him for thieconfi-
protetlion, animate into action the Ele/tors of Co. dente of his eciastituourf Ike same argument would
Empire. Nor can I better &seclude, than in pr,i. have applied to that illustrious .bat alter, so recently
Peeing " the health of Sir V. 'Burdett, and the In- and irreparably lot to the country ; and, he trusted,
dependent Eleftors of Middlesex;" which was drank was too contertptible, Mid& the present cernotece-
amidst the most animated plaudits, with three dates wow of ~
G0,,.,„,,,„,...,tiv,„ any
weight with the
three. discerning assembly whom be had now the honour
Sir Faancts BURDITT observed, there was one to address. He concluded by recommending the
toast, which the Eleitors of Westminster. so bell Elefli.in of Mr '1 iierney.
acquainted with the satire of Ministerial influence, Mr. Swap's's recomMendation was seconded by
would sincerely drink— Mr. Ascocc.
Sueieo re thehideperident freeholders efidam pshire, in their Mr. C. Donate then eame forierd, and strongly
aontions against the aggression of an arbitrary Minister. recommended his. Worthy Friend Sir Robert Tur-
He then begged to take his leave. having recom- ton, who twice before had the honour of presenting
' mended the immediate appointment of small can- htmseli as a Caediilate for their choice ; and -who,
yawing committees, which rendered the duty easy notwithstanding the influence which had been cow-
, to the individual. at the same time that it was ma- Pined against Mph had borne so high an estimation
terially serviceable to the peat object of.their at- amongst the glutton, that the majority against hies
tain ment. at the close of the last Eleetion was but 7t (several
Sir Francis Burdett and Mr: Patel bevies retired. voices called oat 94i); he would let Gentlemen b"-
Mr Cobbett was tatted-ter threhidr ; end **eller else efenifeelifFE don Nosy, ad It' Val -,St:_ -
place proposed f: e health of worth disputing. ,But, as his Honourable Fiiersd
" Sir France 11Jviett—with three times three;" had, upon th'e loniser occasion, pledged himself to
which was drank with enthusiastic applause. After come forward again upon the first vacancy, to offer
proposing some regulations for a uniform and eine- himself for the honour of their choice, he now stood
teal canvass of the city of Westminster, he proposed forth to fulfil that engagement, and he. Mr. Dun-
a toast, kin, did not hesitate to rely, that his cause world be
The Independent freeholder of Hampshire, and success successful—pledged to him from motives of private.,
to the exertione they a,u now making for the preservation of
the remains on the ,r freedom, friendship, as well as from the most intimate know-,
against the attacks of se odegaat led e, _
l_
of his personal .
Administration." g and ong experience
This toast was received with universal applause ; high honour, and political integrity. His independ;
and atter a few patriotic toasts and songs, the corn- *nee and public sprit were well known to all who
pang separated with the utmost harmony, declaring heard him ; upon such grounds it was that he now
their anxious wish to support the cause in which had the honour of proposing him as a fit Reim-
they had assembled. 1 sentative for the choice of the Elettors of South-
wark.l He could not, it was true, speak upon the
ground of experience as to his Parliamentary con- II
duet, as he had not the good fortune to have been
before eleCled ; but he was confident, that had he
succeeded in the former Eleflion, the whole tenour
of his political cOndon would have spoken still mute
forcibly in his recommendation.
Mr. Pe eserim seconded the recommendation of
Sir Thomas Turton, and coincided most fully in
the encomiums bestowed upon him by the last
Speaker. That Sir Monies had sot been before in
Parliament. was not owing so any difficulty or im-
pediment he could have met in being returned foe
other Boroughs. I'he reason was, that he had
never sought eleition through any other source ;
and, indeed, by the very warm and liberal.:
sdpport be had twice before experienced lions
this free Eleaors of Southwark, he came for ward
once more in hope of being more saccesethal.
He alluded to a former occasion, when the Eledors
of Southwark were called together, to emedaire of
the best mode of contributing their zealot's and
loyal support to Government and to the native;
but the question was not in what menace theyeeold
best contribute their support, but whether or not they
sh uld Roam to Parliament the R,ght Hon. George
Tierney ? Them was so man better disposed, thee
he felt, to support His majesty's Government, and
mote especially His Majesty's present Minissers; ,
and, though he felt the importance of returning IS I
Podimment a representative for this great and pop
loss trading Borough, a man conversant in. aid
cooneded with, commerce; yet he would prefer the
independent spirit of such a man as Sir Thomas
fusion, even to the boasted talents of Mr. Tierney,
which might probably recommend him one day to
the Office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, but
whose views to personal interest were no pledge of
fidelity to the trusts of a representative. He, there-
fore. earnestly recommeotled Sir Thomas Turton,
and relied that he would, on the present occasion,
become the man of their choice.
Mr. THORNTON next came forward to address
the Fleefors.-•tie said, the dissolution of Parlia-
ment took place 13 suddenly, and at a period so
wholly cater:led by him, as to have left him con-
siderably behind those gentlemen who were his com-
petitors, on the ground of having previously can-
vassed the Eleaots. He felt, he said, the disadvan-
tage under which be must labour from that circum-
biataCe ; but he hoped it would not be imputed to
him as arising from any want of personal respeft to

5Wt

-7--
• hit enfatillienti itineneved: for'abeve tvtrtf Tetra
with their signorand arnfi.lence, and e nations of
having discharged the trust conscientiously and to _
the best of his ahilit.th- he came foe ward now, once
hmt7edwthooseffefrr iheinncts"4„wthionrwrorheie rdetileir'itnitmenrdct2o neneti'lu.,et
him enthe pies nt occas;on,would endeavour t 7 pial:.
ate the disadvautate wirier which he la4ourzetifisa
late caevais, by giving him their votes singlX.„.,He
trusted too. that the circumstance would be.'cr,nsi-
dered by the Elerftcws at large, upon white We- •...:4
ralitv he now threw hitissell ; and he had be
sitisfaaion to declare, 'drat amongst those few per- :
ties of his old friends, whom he had time hitherto
to consult. their seal and assurances its; surpnit weed
stronger than ever. Mr.. Thorntpn then called the •
attention of the Assembly ti a short and cannily ~..,
view of his political cen,lua.-iince be first bad
the Donner of being returned by them to Parliament.
Ide had been charge I with early aid ecmtineed et-
taclonent to Mr. Pitt. It was trite, he wo•Warly •
attached to that great man, oo his emrasce into .p.o.'
litical eminence, because he considered him the
friend of the Corstitution, and the friend of liberty. ,
of Parliamentary "reform, and of peace with Amos
rise, and he voted with him on every tonna, lit
favour of those principles. But ha voted
the war with France, as the friend of peace,
rejoiced in what was conceived .o be the • 1
went of French liberty. ander the French revoletionv
because he saw no reason for this country than '44
envy the commercial prosperity of France. aid
he hoped that the cite ilistment of liberty sheeny
would lad to dm iturodedtion of lama light
and more freedom is this comas', ; ~acid tend
gradually to the rxtendos, of freedom thrash . '
4 ihavorld. But when be saw that liberty its Tromso
degenerate into the most atraciens a.-41 eau- if
gutnary licentiousness, when he saw RalreaslSSlP *4
the French Monarchy, and at the matirsav 21
went of a pure democracy, whrbitto arietbli Wow
,'
fern spreading to this country mad to' Wall* sag
endangering the subversion of eat Gent Istifreet-
stitution, he voted'. certainli for measures, eibichi,
however unpopular, helOnsidered only asdeohosso
„remedies for a desperate disease. 'srd es lidisemsai•
bly necessary, at the moment, to savelbe State &on
subversion. and the Country from anarchy. fie was
happy to observe the, phrensy of the rooms.' setailis
with the delusion which sicked it ; asollie eves ed
himself still the,uochanged advocate for eenserter-
tion'al liberty, and the "(fiend of grease& and
itedarate Reform in Parliament. as wean sot
, getslance should warrant. He had, is tits
cosine of his Parliamentary combs% voted wilt
• Ministers when be coacolved them to ha :tights
sE
and alphas them, when be thong* dme5,,510,44.
lie was the advocate for rms. sad NO *.
in wipport of the Admintstratioii. wise,'
ed it; he was adverse to the pram. war,
he thought it at least of geratieum4Alt. peitienty.:Z4
He had ever discharged his duty to the beet. et his 1
coosciesce, and fat the general itemises of Income
stituents and his country. There was were poste
in which he had differed from his minstitsmslt hot
en all great questions of' going intim* so if
country. he hoped he had always spoke Oa* mil.
meats ; he disdataeri that tart t024.444m
which, because it binds al ft flees Om pan 1
--snatry, precludes him from nerving nsi...l---

Aro
weeds
calm influence of arty man, or set of men. He cen
ceived it to be as necessary to exercise a cousins.
tional vigilance against the condo& of parties in op-
position. as against Ministers in power; ageism*
those who were anxious to get into places, as phut
those who possessed them He meant to
relleßions on any set of men. With resiele to the
,Right Hon. Gentleman, noir his sot pence, be
*wad his talents had justly reconmidlded bees to
.sbe. place he now filled; and be nor no reel
-en why he could not discharge his 4ffir
perk& consistency with the interests of tee=
try. But whatever that Right Hat.
Gentleman possessed in talents, as a anicitiaor, he
would behold to say, he had the advantage of bin
•is point of independence. Tbat eharateristic be
lied ever maintained : what be always was, he ever
„Ahead be ; and relying upon the proofs be had ever
sidelf his principles, and the coniseence of the
.~a had so, often experienced, he hoped
tbksr6eeves they were incensed to reed upon the
=occasion, they would nit expel their old,
dent.•and faithful representative.
Mr. Mattis, next addressed the Eledmi ; end
after rewinding then of the confidence they es lose
were pleased to repast in him, disclaimed all seek
%-riblembilles of a previous add perecoal t -
Isierhen hoptited to bhp, by the Hon.
I. New contrary, he had "sprcilically
fp74l334laltehwisit, thit,if e
as • ingredient in
Ile must beg leave
mime td not comply with the
a, reel and injuti,ws neglea
tikatilliisaions bad been made
eta ins so meet them in any ,
form. One patty, on a former
him a Jacobin. another Round
patriot ; a third charged him
courtier ; another stited hits
again called him placeman
another said, he b.O gone to
any Man were to alrlaw some .
to publish them withiliihassie se
be ready to give them -personal
ration. But he was trio old hi
tioneering. to busy hims if iM'
cable task of answering all the
and eleOion squihs, posted-urns
Borough of SoutharA k ; and
were such charges exoibitecl
own he had ind,ed the atrccit)
the last short interval of peace
accepted a place f r 3171 Bonaparte,
him one. Pessioner he was not
be : a place be certainly had detained
iocompatible with the *writ of the
being at once the serve:at of Lis '
to his country ; or that no
*ould accept a situati ,n for s.
he • on the contrary, he cunceu
liar i•eauty of the British '
country aught have it: fr:ei
as well as the Court its lac:
the Hon unable Genders L.l
knowledge his competence for

penonal castes., as
the Hoa. Gentleman
cifically_ stated to his
piteoo.l °MTV. W
fl a pialalleliarY TIP
los to decline the pode
the cerernwl. vtithont
R of his ortal dory.
eta so bin; bet he eqe
y palpieln ei satheatic
ler occasion. had called
tel fault that he
im With being ante
a a tnru.coat I a
Ln and pensioner. ; a
i live at Boulogne. lf
to of those charges. op
as to them. he should
rsoaal answer and refs-
iii the Bonne', of elev.
SI the silly and impraSi.,
the anonyinou• plicarte •
upon all the wall, in the
d there only. be believe?,
against hint He would
:try to go to Boulogne, .n
ice : he really Tweet.
',ate, for he never offered
s out. sot ever looked to
accosted ; being nothing
itd the constitution. .n
Lis King and in, friend
o frienl a his country
w the so vice ot.the puh.
Inceived tto be Iho torte'.
h Con &novo the
..11 in Govnisernet to
ccoe7s. lie c.,uld ismtt
.1 who was pleas J to asp
for the Chancel'. $ up if