The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-02-10 00:00:00

TA RLIA IR ENTA RY REFORM.

One of the meet numerous meetings of the Free-
holders of Middlesex, which we remember to have
seen, collected together yebterdity in Niece-yard.
Lord Cochrane, Sir Franca* Burdett, and several
others,. appeared upon the hustings et about one
o'clock.

The High Buda having read the Requisition,
which was signed by a number of respectable Free-
holders
r_

Mr. STIRCII rose, to propose certain resolutions
for the adoption of the meeting. upon the subject
of Parlsaareutary Reform. Ile was sure that,
though au humble individual, he would not be
taxed with presumption, in offering himself to their
attention upon such an occasion, in which tiot the
great alone, but all classes of society, were mate-
rially interested ; nor diet he conceive that elo-
quence was necessary upon such a subject, any
more than rank ; it was sufficiently plain to all un-
derstaudings ; his object was to remind them, that
when ones suffered their affairs to be taboo out of
their own hands, and placed in the hands of tho.e
whose interests were not only distinct, but
opposite, tly y were likely to be badly managed
—(Applauseq—aud to unpress upon them the
necessity of recovering the controul Over their
own affairs, by a full, free, and adequate repre-
sentation in Parliament. Without this, it was Os
vain to expect that the public iuterest would be
pursued, to preference to the interest of a few in-
dividuals, who were now for monopolising every
thing—(Applause:). The question of reform was
so often discussed,that it needed but little thought,
at present, to comprehend and to support it. About
thirty years ago it had been brought forward by a
friend of hi., Dr. John Jehb, who had exposed the
utter inadequacy of the representation. Since that
period, various meetings had been held, at some of
which a young man (Mr. Pitt) had expressed it as
his opinion, that, without a Reform in Parliament,
the country could not be free, nor could any honest
man be found to undertake the office of Minister;
that young man, however, forgot the sentiment
in his maturer years; he became a Minister him.
self, nuder the same system--and. (or the space of
16 years, under ciscurnstatices of unexampled dis-
aster, retained the situation. (Applause:./ about
20 or 30 years ago, Ministers were called the Ser-
vants of the Crown ; but now, upon every occasiou,
they called themselves the Government. Upon
what account the alteration took place, he could
not conjecture; but he thought them at least as
wall untitled to the appellation of Servants of the
Crown, at the present day, as at any former. He
took notice of the insult which the Livery of Lon-
don had received, from the manner in which its
Address was treated ; and insisted that Ministers,
who could give such advice to His Majesty, were
aa longer deserving of the confidence of the coun-
try. It was an iustatice which went not only to
anew their unworthinesa, but the badness of the
system under which they lived, and the necessity
of the measure which it was now proposed that they
s!iould most earnestly solicit. Having concluded
his speech midst loud applause., he read the
following R solutions, which were all sgreed to
unanimous!) :
Ittsotvro
•

That la a Pet ;os pretested to the /tense of Commons, on
the bib day of )14,, i 7ortd, and euteied on its Junrit.ils, it
was averred, and odered to he proved at the Bar, Plat 154
isdividsals, (Peers and other*) .lid, by their own authority,
stpoiat, or procure the return of an 7 Members of that WIWI!
(independent of those frost Scotland), who were thus enabled
to decide all gnestiuos in the same of the whole people of
Great Britain.

That in a repnit presented to the said Molise (luring the
last Nftriuu, it appears that a large patirai of the Meiotic s
therenf, are placessea sad remissness, deraileut as t►e
Crows.

That in a Petition preeested to the said House, on the gth
dry of D►eemher, t7or, and entered on its Journals, it was
averred, that " Seale therein were r notoriously rented and
bought as striding, few rattle its a fair ;^ which assertion was
then resealed as " scalwlalau and :" Hat when, on
the 11th day of May last, two of His Majesty's Ministers
were seemed of bring conceived is the sale of • seat, they were
screened fern punishment, on a plea of the extreme Noto-
riety 'lithe pearlier, a practice w►ic► gray pf its Mealier,
unblusbiaglv jnettied.
That to dies defective stair of the representation, are to
he attributed Inns. isoforlisoltv, so•t delitniCtiVe wan ; the
namease di-lit and taxes with w►ich the country is burden-
ed; and those peruteimas Councils which hare deprived our
kllow•sabjeets, the citizens of Legatos, of dirt ancient sod
coustitutiutial right of Petition to the King.

That by these-corruptions, the people arc deprived of their
lawful share in the Government, by representation in the
Commas' House of Parliament, which 'bare has been usurp.
ed by al astairtal oligarrliy of brough-monger..
That a complete reform to the representation won! .1 de-
stroy the 1017Mpt influence of the loiroueh faction, ore to
the Crown its just promulgator., and restiA to the People
thaw rights of which they ale unlaisfully deprived.
That whets the ppitttiplus of our Constitution shall he re.
Awed to practice, the es ',clew., disorders, sod tumult. at-
tending elections, will tic avo;tl,:il, the rights tool liberties of
the people mewed, Macs lesseued i the suerpinl arid gra rims
impositiou ofthe property Ito. removed ; and tutore hoidens
prevented. CurrUptiell w.lo them be No longer no I.lr•saty,
userh has avowed to be ottemary, fur the adatinistratiou of
public affairs.
That • Petition to Hi. Majesty be Mt, read ; (which being
done, as follows
We, your Majesty's dutiful and loyal 'objects, the lake-
Intent huevehotolem, electors of the City and Liherty of West-
pilaster, respectfully approach your blagemy's Throne, to
d. c!nre oar noxious solicitude tlir the honour of your Comes,
and the safety of your slum:mom ; rod, notwitkatanding
the umoustitutiould sad odious barriers which, by effill•
minded Couusellors, have reeently berm placed between your
Majesty sad sm.. kilos -pahjeri,., the Citizens of I. lois, we,
b. wing in mind that the same Acts of Parliament w hich, and
a loch AGM., node the Crowns of fug mod year Majesty's
birth-right, declared, as hart.; always mimed, the right of
P 4114114111 10 be uor Istrtls-right."
. . .

11.. handily state to your Ilajesty, that it is with the
deepest Alert ion ae Msrc °lowest-a the r..pid teroleaey of this
our Swipe d Country, hi that .fete of things which prepare
srititiv for foreigs aohjisuition, the cause of whirls, we hum-
blveohtoit. is to Le found it one of the Shute rstatr., of
which the Gower/owlet of thew realms is composed, Itar:iig
lost its itolepeaileuce. ,
We will mot detail to yi we 11844..4 the proofs offered to he
praa,,,,...1 at the Her eg .he fitoti•e of l'uswitiout, its the 6th
de) ut May, 1791 us those of the genstall) received epsahme

RUARY 10, 1810.

°trout 3Tsjestes Falllfrrf alai loyal subjects, that • tooliwitg
of the Milldams are sot returned to that Meuse by the pew
ple, but are phrecil there by • corrupt oligarchy of beirrerghe
mongers : Hut, with sorrow of bran, we find ourselves cuter
pelted to declare to your Majesty, our firm convictioa, that
complies has been established reel avowed id that !louse,
and our belief, that ter this causs'ouglit to he attributed the
unfortuuste eireurnmairces which hire adlietedyour people,
and brought your Majesty's dominiui.s iuto such imisieent
told, that, to prrrerre these from bj int i en, by • foe
which England has fns ages despised, will, as your Majesty
has been graciou.ly plumed to tell up, " require the utmost
efforts of vigilance, fortitude, sad penevtessies."
We humbly represent to your Majesty, the evils we so
feelingly deplore, hare caused the dr...action of oluseet all
the Kingdoms and States of the Confluent of Europe; the
corruptions of their Governments, by oh. nafin the alfec-
lions of the people, bariug rendered diem an eery conquest to
the armies of France.

laufri4swd regret we state thew lam^ritable circee-
stan.•rs to your Majesty ; but we are not without hope that
we have a resumer- in the Constitution of tn.. Commiy, and
need only retool to its principles, to be again the great .d
glorious nation we were in farmer than and we are fully
convinced, that nll our dtugers 'nay be averted, yinte Majes.
ty's Throne seemed, the rights and liberties of your people
leatored, end thil Ration once more become the adintration
of the w0r11.1,-.nintoly, Ind only, by an efficient refire is t►e
Commons• Monet of Parliament.

We, tletsethre,birarb4---;pose, dud yeas Majesty will,
be pleased to adopt such wiemaces, as. iu your
Illajecty's v o.luw sliall.seens matt, for effecting*
constitutional Refocus in Use Consume' Howie of
Parliament, and fur serving to your People the
reality and uses of P.epceseutation.
tr WAS TW" R IMOLVED,
That this be the Petition

That the Iligh Bailiff do sign this Petition.
That our Representatives, the Ho.. Lord Cochrane, sod
Air Francis Burdett, Dart. accompanied by the High gaililL
he requested to deliver the Mlle to His Majisty.
That a Petition to the House of Cusansoss he new read ;
(which below done, a. follows:—)
That in a Petition presented to your flowettirahle WOUPIIS
by Charles Grey, lisq (sow Earl Grey,) no Motlthty. the Gal
day of May, 1793, and which Petition was entered us the
Journals of your Honourable House, it was averred, sod
offered to be proved—

4. That the Hunan of Commons did nut folly and fadrly re-
present the people of England.

" That the elective franchise was so partially and un-
equally distributed, that a majority 'of your Honourable
Haase was elected by les. thus a two-hundredth part at the
'wale popolatiou..
" That the right of voting was regulated by nu uniform or
rational principle.
" That Rutland." the smallest, " and Yorkshire," the
largest coast), " uturucd the same nualier of Representa-
tives.

" That Cornwall," which, by the census taken by order
of Parliament, appears to contain a population of I tie,l6o,
" returns as men, Winkel-a to your Hosouruble House os
the counties of York, Rutland, soil Middlesex," which, by the
MID! cftlftle, 01011110 1.693,377.-.... And that Cornwall and
Wilts," containing 373,3;13 persoos, semi I%.re Beriipsk
►rembm to Parliament than Yorkshire, Lane shire, War-
wickshire, Middlemen, Worcesterslure, and Sousermtahirs,
united," which contain 4,971,045.

" That ;out year Meinoarshk Members are returned by
IS plows, where the elections are notoriously mete matters
of fonn.
That,io addition to the 70 so Chosen, 91 more of year
llonootabls Members are elected by 46 places, io nose of
wtherit the mother at electors ernado s..
" That, it addition to the aft we elected, t 7 more of year
flonourahie Members are elected by iv Ores, in nose of
*kith the nemher of electors exceeds too.

Thst, is adthtion to the 197 Itoa;urable Members so
clnes, so more are reformed by 16 places, to none of which
the number of voters eseseds NO.

" That, hi oddities to t►e 149 so elected, to more are
returned for counties in Scotland, by less than lOU electors
each, asd in for counties in Scotland, by leas than 250 each.
That, in addition to the 279 so elected, 13 districts of
harsh, in Scotland, not cootainiug too vote., carob, and two
districts of Wren., out contaising las each, retina is mere
of your Honourable Members.
" That is this manner 294 of your Honourable Members
a►e tholes, which, being a decided majority of the maws
House of Commons, ale enabled to decide all questions is
the name of Ow whole people of Great Britain.
" That 84 indiekluals do, by their owe immediate au-
thority, send 131 of your Honourable Members to Parlia-
ment.

4. Thee, ie addition to these ts 7 Honourable Members,
ISO more, 111 sting, in the whole, 307, are returned to your
Meaourable House, out by Ilse collective voice of those
alums they appear to represent, hut hy the recommendation
of 70 powerful individuals, added to the $4 before men-
tioned, sad making the total number of paining altogether
may 154, 01ou rrt um a decided raajoricy of your Honourable
House

" That no less than 150 of your Honourable Membere inn
their elections entirely to this interference of Peers : And
that 40 Peen!, to definite of the Resolutions of your H..
nourthle House. have possessed themselves of so may
Bereave tenures, rued obtained sad% au absolute anal OW
emitrouled comtnaist, in rosin very small Boroughs is the
kingdom, as to be enabled, by their own partitive authority.
to return at of your Honntrabk Members.
" That et ats in your Honourable House are sought for
at a most elitist-send and inereasiag rate of expense.
or That the means taken by candidates to obtam, and by
electors to bestow, the honour of a scat in your Houton able
Homo, evidently appear to have been lucre...tug in a pite•
gressiee derree of fraud and corruption."
Your petitioners are of opinion that if the representation
of the people in row Honoured; House lord not been very
deteetise and u...equal, they should net now have to cum.
pram of the sad effects produced by several unfortunate and
deatrucitve wan, or of the immense debt and taxes with
which the etointry is burden. d. They lament, that your
Hoomarable House have sot thought fit to take the petition,
runtatniii: the above allegations, into yuur a rotas consider-
atio• ; the more so, as, since the time it was entered os
the Jonnials of sour Huntinreltle House, the atm,e v.'s"
eannot but have increased the number of coil opt persons who
barter fur seats. Aud it is with grief we state, that When*
direct and distinct charge was made in your Honourable
Howie no the itit day of Hay last, against laird Castk-
masts ;ad Mr. Perceval, Members thereof, and also, at the
same time, were two of His Majesty's Mnisters, or looms
sold 'seat therein, that your Holum able House refused to is-
sting* any imptiry—we are therefore compelled to conclude,
that the only alternative which is It ft to tn.r country is a
radial Refi.rsa in the Representation, or a final Eatisetwa
of its Liberties. _ _

- We cannot comes* trim your lionoorshle House our sp.
prelletesious, that the purr wt floc Oar p.llllOO will tiot be
sttaseled to entd it he teo kite; but yosr petitisners is
say event, ba•e the sstisfsetios artsiug from a cossetesttoue
disdain of the duty they owe their country
Tone petitioners most earnestly reette.t, that your Ho.
n.,taraidc Ito use will, al au early ale), cause inquiry
to he um& tato the peanut defeetit e .iste of the Re-
prtseutatton, end adopt such other unease as shall
psesest the choice of Itestesestettves frau beta``
.• committed to select bodon of men, of such 'emitted
nutcase' a• reader theta ou t.tts) prey to Use artful, we
a read) purchase to hut Wih);" and to 'nodes the
&intim of INshasta. uts; Ned by removal the causes
wf )bat cot.fecoa Idigrison, end expense, with which
•

PRICZ

C Y *A

at
authelaerel" what Ulu eareaddioni"W realit 'lathe (Hregeruoitt-'ull
tins assert,j otos to be, the mesas of a harp) donna
and good okyoyit between the Kiri noel the raves.
11111001-11cD.
That Odd* She Petition.
That the High Bailiff, sad Treaty-eve Inhabitant Rowe:
holders, design this Pruner.
That it be delivered to oar Representatives, the Hun.
Lard Coehrese, sad del Frasier Burdett, Dort. to be present-
ed to the House. And they ars hereby instructed to roman
the tacos.
These R,esolutions were regularly seconded, and
carried unanituoualy.
Mr. Wisnare spoke for some time; but, in con-
sequence of the greatnese or the crowd, and the tit-
convenience to which we were consequently put.
we had not an opportunity of collectiug the parti-
culars of his speech. We tan only say, genera/Iy,
that he represented Parliamentary lie form sa a ones.
sure to which no objection coold be stated ; and
that the only way in which a dispute could be main.
tamed upon such a subject, was by canya.sing the
particular forni or extent of the reformation.

The thanks of the Meeting tieing proposed to
their tiro representatives. Lard Cochrane rod Sir
Francis Burdett. aad carried 'magnums* and with
laud ■pplauses. •

Lord COCHILIM come Anwar& sad was received
with loud cheers. 'lle exprraiat, his anxious hope,
that the people of Gnat nritato would follow the
noble example which the Meows of Westminster
had set them that day. That a reform iu -Parha-
meat was necessary, he believed no man- wool.'
doubt, Mho had' observation to exercise upon the
present state of the Goveripmeut of this country.
eipplatises). It we% iitlboed, universally. that the
whole system was corrupt. and that was an adesio.
Ilion, that reformation was tiecesisary. The leading
men in Parliament undertook to direct the votes
and the honour of the Members, and both votes and
honour were too much at theirdisposal (applause?"
Hut although it was well known that the Goverw
men' wet corrupt; perhaps it was not so clearly
understood that corruption had made its way
into the very principles of our defence, into
that part of it. which was considered as the
great hope of England in this moment of her peril.
the onvy—( Appfauser).—That, he could assure
them, was not free from the objections which every
honest wan must make to the prevailing
To what, he •oulil ask, was it owing that 120 ships
were employed in blocking up but to sail of tio.
enemy ? It was owing to this, that the system of
the navy has fallen under the iodueoce of the be.
rongli-mongering faction—/Led eppineoes)—the
inevitable consequence of the predominance of
which faction was, that merit was passed over, while
those alone who had inilluence in that quarter were
promoted. His Lordship went into a long ex-
planation of the misoondei t of the Admiralty
Courts, and of the great abuses which must ne-
cessarily have taken place under the system of
licenses; not only was the naval fortis hat the
very trade of the country subjected to thetiorotra.;b•
mougers. All those he considered as unanswerable
arguments, in proof of the expedienry of referee...
He exprvoied his gratitude to the Meeting, so very
strong terms, for the honour they had dour him open
this and former occasions.

Sir Fasacts &mower came ftrward next, amid
load applause,. He arid. that if any thing could
strengthen him in his attachment to the measure of
Parliamentary Reforio, it was the circuuistaries oif
their regarding it with favour, who had always
evinced towartts him such kiudneas and support.
After the able manner in which the neceseity of the
measure was already explained, he did taut feel it
necessary fur him to enter at large into all the
arguments that suggested themselves ow the sub.
jest ; Reform, he mime{ say, and he rrjoieed to
find that they all agreed with him, was expedient,:
It was sometimes demanded by the opponents of.
the measure, whet was it they would have? He
would answer directiv and without equivocation.
• . . .

their rights—/Applanses)—The people'elt England
had as good a right to their third is the Legislature.
as the King had to his Crown—(Applarses.)—lf
those questioning gentlemen proceeded farther.
sad asked them what they would not have? without
answering the question as drretly, hr would answer
it at effectually, by referring theta recent trans.
actions. only to be accounted for by the present
iniquitous system+—(Applithses.)--If any marabout('
h,! inclined to hesitate in pronouncing an opinion
upon the danger of that system, etc would tell them
a story, from which they might draw a lesson. In
the times of fable, Death hail made an agreement
with an old man to give him three warnings benne
he came to take him away. At fetigth Death made
his appearance, to the utter surprise of the old gen-
tleman, who expostulated with him for having
broken his promise. t. What !" said Death—" ba►e
I not already given you the t hree war)sings ?—Are
you not Wind, and lame, and deaf?"—(A laugh.;—
So they also had their warnings. They had
racks, bastiles. and German trooti, and every other
symptom which indicated a people soffeeing, and a
government eerrupted. Ile insisted strongly upon
the system of pillage and plunders which was daily
going forward, but punished. So far from be-
mg punished, it found Protection in that room. where
corruption was avowed, practised. and defended.—
(Applauses.)—He noticed the attacks which were
making upon that palladreas of their liberties, the
hbarty of the press, which, even shackled and re-
stricted as it was, the public plunderers did not
I feel themselves safe while it 'snood. As to the
German soldiers, he would ask, could not Ministers
trust to the bravery of Englishmen; those English-
men who had succeeded in beating the very armies
which drove the Germans out of their own coun-
try ?-lApplahiet.)—He agreed with the Noble
Lord in his opinions upon the state of the navy,
and of the fort* trade. and in the ciliate to
which he ascnbed their situation. If Reform in
Parliament had been conceded twenty or tbirty
}eats ago, they would hatie asoided calan,ito.•.
' inns, aid ea tuunecna patisiteao( taxattai•. lie

::
ftc ,A.. .

laid. with respect to those meti who talked of me..
Zeratiun, that they only wished to abridge the
rights uts the people, and appease the present lut-
ist:op. He did not wish that irritation should be
appeased until they bad sueeiteded.—(4pplaases.)—
flovirar made some farther observations upon the
itupolley of einployiog foreign troops and officers,
he eniiciodeti with returning his sincere thanks to
them for their conduct towards hub upon that, and
upon all occasions.

Mr. Ft e astir made a fewOlisereatimis in oppo-
sition to Mr. Windlsm!" attack Editors
and Reporters of Newspapers:— •
air. WARDLE entered at lenitth into the sy,te.ut
of pillar, which he lamented tO see go aufmni.hed.
With reference to himself, he• arid. that -he never
knew the Uuke of Kent, nor had arms hint, until
the day of the trial itithes King's Bench. He agreed
in thg nege.gits of Parliaanonntry Reform, which,
be Monett, they were heundtoinsist upon, us the
only means of *avows the country ; and ssid,
ws lang as he brrathsd he would h. a zealous and
faithful servant of the public. •
The ?haulm of gir Penting were wireu to Arthur Mar-
rim. Ow Hyde Bailiff, fat the prostitutes,. willrerblvh he
called the Remiss. satt..fiat he iaipsilial eiralkiet is the
thole. • . .
After • few tiboervations frPna a Gentleman,
whose name we could not learn, the uteating broke'
up at four o'clock.
•

IMPERIAL P4R1.1.4,VEN.r

MOUSE OF LOKOI.AIignAv, FCC. 9.

WCLI.PALEY'S nivoacir. HILT_
Mr. ()arrow tad Mr, Harrlion aPpitared a. Counsel at their
I.uettsbipeler, ow the Mbar of the Pet Mauer. . .
Mr. (roenter said be thought it hie claire/seining frOm all
detail (naive ittellmatinces whit', were oseessary hole 7 he.,
fore the Itiein: Withont, therefot3:irtering labial per-
healit• of einiilladinlieb might be ' 'aiding to their Lord-
ships, he shoddempinely sill the wi es requisite, to prove
the r loll.s. g letesumeres Odic Lady, with a certain Noble
Lord. • ,
Mr. Spfnlis proved his baying served a copy of elm bill 08
Lady Charlotte Wellesley, al t helm&
General Bode and W. Soihnomi proved the marriage of
Mr. Writhiskyte Lady charlotte, at Howohain, in Suffolk,
All 1103.-
A ropy of the Judgment in the King's Bench was pro-
dithCC.l, tiaL Mr. Loom., proved the paymeut of 20,u001.
saves, which hepsid into the bands of Mr. Drummond, on
Me. occemit.
Baron Taytl was meat called. He said, lie had apart-
'sent. at Mr. Atkins's, iu blountstreet, which conelenel of
• nest lour. /outs/sing a 'alma-roam, a br.l-rueie, sod •
dresailut-roorn. Lord Poget sod Lad) Charlotte Wellesley,
with *how he had bees semi:muted, canoe at the time of
her elopeascut to these npartnieuts, which he consigned to
their ase. They cone not a their own mom, fur he re.
presented HI were lady and Gentleman met of the
country„ who ad tact with a temp.:retry einbannisment, sod
who wished to hide themselves is too • fug a few dabs. It
wimps the Oth of March, last pier, he believed they came,
and "bey vemaised • lbw days He bad an opportualty of
seeing them once, and georrolly twice a-day ; there was
only ens ,bed is his apartioesta, and no convenience for
ties obeying separate. •
Nebermi Parris*, ilia maid servant at ItaritiiTayll's apart.
tem" aseuneeted Lord Paget and Lady Charlotte Welke-
lip emileimillemat`no die HA of March, and I maiming there
• law dam they Mad JDO-siller bed but Baron Toylre while
they reetamed, and she had net the smallest doubt hat
they slept together every night, which was corroborated
* the appearance of the bed ever) morning.
'fbelr Lordships were nete.ned the evidence was sulkiest,
and after Counsel Lad witladraren from Bar, the Bill was
mid the second time, sod ordoeml to be committed for
Monday.

The