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

WESTMINSTER MEETING.

CONVENTION IN PORTUGAL.

Yesterday, in pursuance of a requi-ation to, and
riyaintineut of, the High el Westminster. a
numerous meeting of the inhaintants of that
c:•y and the Liberties thereof, took ;Alice in %Vert-
u, _AO' Hall, fur the purpose of coasidering of au
Add :IS in he presented to His Majesty. prayikig,
tL.,. 11i. Majesty would be graciously pleased to
&tat an inquiry aisri full investigation to be made
lam the causes which led to the conclusion of the
Coareation in Portugal.
Curtin:loiti.ms hustings were erected in NI central
rut on the south side of the Hall, for the :seem's-
usulatiou of the High Bailie; those who had signed
tlh requisition, and those individuals who wen, in-
chalet to state their rentimetits upon this occasion.
Taehre o'clock was the hour appointed, but it was
were the Ifigh Bailiff mule his appearance, and
ley that time the Hali was crowded to the very_
ears, all uniting, with aii%ious expectation, to hear
t4e rt.iiit proceedings. Daring the short in-
ter,al, various rumours were in circulation amongst
the iii.t aiseinhly, that resolutions, aniciailintuts,
I .ouster-rtsultitions, were about to be pro-
To.ed and opposed 41, various individuals. Some
ra,ai went the length of stating, that Sir Hew was
111W,11gbi them, and had been perambidating the
Hail, from an early hour, in disimise.
Arthur Morris, Esq. the High Bailiff, Wsll
the Prot who atirimeki apses the Hustings, itecom-
rmied by Mr. Sheridsu. Mr. Thomas Sheri-
dan, Mr. %Vishart, Mr. Clarkaon, &c. &c. The
tinstiugs were •41011 completely occupied; rod. when
silence was procured,

The Huta list Liss stated. that in consequenee
ore requisition sent to hits, and signed by • great
Dumber of respectable inhabitants, lie had tammin.
col this meeting. He than read the retribution. mid
said, that he should leave it to mete to propose
ma discuss certain resulutious, which he wider.
stood were prepared.
Mr. WISIIMILT then presented himself to the air
tire of the assembly, and aildremeal them as fol..
lows Gentlemen, I trust there is tiu at
this meeting, who does not hold it to be • pent
imi
duty, as well as a legal right amid privilege of the
luliabitants of this country. (when Itgesltywisembled
together,) when their expectatious have been frus-
trated, I etas error (in the present instance) say,
blasted, and when the (Ammeter of the British nurse
has received a stain, to meet and address His Ma-
jesty, in order that the causes that led to a disaster,
which has had such ao effect, should be fully in-
vestigated; and that the person or persons she have
led to those 4Ausee, may be disgraced said ponialted.
limpreso d with the ides, that the lota Couveatiou
Portugal was at once mysterious sad disgrace-
ful, I bare, along with ethers, jekied in the equi-
anion which the Gizli Bailiff has just now reed to
)ou,that you should meet this Jay, in order to
take into consideration that act, discuss it in all its
'emits mud hearing., and tulopt such reselutioue.
:id measures, as the imperious care demands.—
When the despot who taw,/ reigns in Fraoce hwl
i,ued his decree, that the Howie of Bergamo
einuld cease to *minis. the Moral Paid/ of Portu-
gal, with nosey of their relatives atm adherence,
timaglit it prudent to retire to a distant pert of
their dointt.ions. Solo after that erect, intuit, the
l'reach Umierel, and his troops, entered l'ortugal,
and absent completely posmessed themselves of
tuat kingdom. flow long they were to remain
there, it was impossible to tell ; but it is a
well.siseertained feet, that the same despot, in-
toxicated with his success, and goaded on Ity
feaber views of authitierm was resolved to wear
his Ally'. domintoos—the kingdom of Spaiii--and
uilo them be his other isequiritsoue. liy fraud, de-
tention. chicanery, and by tarsus the most de-
testahle, he contrived to make went: of the Royal
Family of Spain forswear themselves; anti after-
wards, in • cunning manner, got tbein into his
pacer, so as to comegu that kin dam over to him-
evil. This (Inue, he istiosediately appointed his
hruther to reign in that country. 'fist: isidile-
minded Spailiards, however, feeliiigly alive to their
dearest rights, interests, and lihierties. immediately
(you that event dew to stuns in every quuruer.—
N.. longer guided nor thwarted by depraved and
corrupted (Minister., they *O9ll proved successful it
tti2 cause which they hail so enthusiastically es-
poused. They took a whole twiny prisoners, mid
by diet, *nil verioas other vietories, they cleared
tileir country of their late oeroidious filends,but now
mod inveterate foes. The elouris that were then
lreeking seemed to augur another and a better day
to the destinies of Eine ie. Fortunately fon Por-
titTal, and, perliape, fur Europe at large, we order-
,.! an expedition to sail to Lisbon ; but whether it
il;14 properly timed, air whether blame ran lie attri-
hilted on aecouilt of delay, are matter* which do
ten halting to iis :it present to discuss or to explain.
'rhea points will collie to be diacth.eed and fully
toioridered ill another inimitably, which, inifortu-
wittily, is not now sitting; but I have no doubt
tf:at when it does sit. these mutters will meet with
..ple iliscussioo. A lapse of time took place la
appointing • Commander, and unfor.unately a (;e.
vend veu ultimately appointed, who was totally on-
L•uswil Ili military fame. Ile might very possibly be
a proper and fit Coinisimider for a datrict in peace-
.. cud quiet times ; but there is a wide difference
iceirreeit tlw quahtie.ttions isoce"sry for • Pare e
general end a Canspeigui General, There never
• 1.61.1 from this country an anoy betterofficered its
11::11.1* resp.:ets. or possussed of more 74111 for the
tsr of their country. fly the official details in
lie o*:elte, in the heginniog of ;4eptemh.r, yeti
711 tiod, that • vietnre was gained over the miny
amended by the Ouke D'Abrantes is, perseii.
l•Ve. Nu, was rriteraied from earime imarkes, st
jo 420-1 gave him the title, (continued Mr.
':•••shatt.) us it appeared in The Gazette. in "hien
t. Cootiaandcr of our army tells le:, that
Is was totally igioraut of the eouotry, the
r.. ii situ dial of the enemas and Antallv ale.
14 wet in regard to that degree of italarin
(''is which was necessary to nine* success in the
"edition upon which .he was sent. The event,
in.deed, aliened that he „as no. With the whole
I' yolation of Portneal upon his side, and with stn
s nv impenor in number to that of the enemy. lie
e • 'theirs permitted there hostile troops to return
Si P:lnter--to be conveved there in Brtish
at the expense Of Greet Britain, without