The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-02-27 00:00:00

sod respectful terms to the hour, wl

previnurly declared at their here that:
innocent man lie begg;4l pardon of ,
for having detained them so long, and he
Gentlemen of niore experience than For
iust 'iii on this occamon. It Was no

ttot),itwas a bubjcct that clime home 11

and Wings of all, awl he hoped hi, an
wet with general aitiiport. The lion.

c•onclndni by moving—
" That Thomas Grady, now a prisoner in his Nl...jests,
Gaol of Newzate, he hronglit to the Hard this Hour
forthwith, in order to his being discharged."

Sir R. Wit.sos, in rising to second the motioL,
expressed his regret that the justice of the Hour.
had been administered in so summary a marine..
He did not mean to rider into the general toper,
connected with this motion, but he would cot).
fine himself to the latter part of Mr. Gradv's
Petition. Fie there stated, that his liberaiion
was essentially necessary to the arrangement
those proceedings, with respect to the Honoural,
Member 6.r Limerick, which were now prodii,4
before the House, and which, he might say, attract-
ed the attention of the entire kingdom. His Nan,
.1
he observed, was only 23 years of age, and, as was
known to many Members of that House, was es-
tresuely inexperieoced. Now it surely would not
be for the honour of the House, nor for the honour
of the Member fur Limerick, whose spirit and feel-
ing were so much in union with the serious duty he
had to perform, to prevent the Petitioner from ho.
big the benefit of his fiither's counsel and assist.
mice. All the parties were, if he might use the
term, judicially innocent—none of theta had been
convicted of soy crime. They were all person
of high respectability, and their interest, tlitr
honour, all that was dear to them, depended
on the issue of this examination. Let then
not, if they failed in proving the charge, say,
"4 We were prevented from doing so, by the
of the • House of Commons. We were
owed and deterred by the exercise of power against
this individual, who was calculated to afford us
every assistance." No, if they did fail, let it be
owitig to their criminal inability to substantiate the
charge, awl then the punishment which followed
would prove the upright justice of the House.
The lion. Member for Dover said, the Petition
was worded in such a way WI to offend the dignity
of the Ilouse. He was sure it was not Mr.
Grady's intention to do so. He threw himself ou
their candour and mercy :—And, since he had
entered the House, he had reason to know, that
Mr. Grady wrote a very temperate letter, intended
to be laid before them, but he had intrusted it to
the only channel through which it could not be re-
ceived by the House of Commons. The indivi-
dual to whom it was handed, felt for the situation
of Mr. Grady, but the forms of the House pre-
vented him front laying the fetter before them.
Mr. COVIZTEN AT said, lie felt • most painful
sensation, in being obliged, after due deliberation,
to oppose the present motion. He stated, origi-
nally, the impartial opinion he had formed oil this
subject, and lie assured the House, ill coming to that
decision, he was not actuated by a particle of hosti-
lily beyond what a Wall would naturally feel OD such
an occasion. He was reads to admit, that if, on a snore
deliberate consideration of this case, they saw good

reason to depart from their previous opinion, it would
not be at all isieonsistriit with their honour or dig.
nity to retrace their steles, and adopt another course.
If, oil full consideration, it appeared, that they
were, on Wednesday !light, betrayed into an im-
proper act, hr., for one, would conscientiously state,
that lie would not he ashamed to acknowledge his
error.—(//tar, hear./ —But it was because, after
serious deliberation, lie conceived the course adopt-
ed by the House to have been perfectly coo rect—
because he did not thick that the Petitioner had
made out a case, impugning the justice of the
House, or calliog for its mercy—that he now op-
posed the motion. The lion. Gentleman had not
given quite a correct representation of the case.
The first point touched upon by him, he would put
thus:—The House had decided that the vending of
this letter was a high breach of its privileges. The
ground Oil which they Caine to this decision was
stated, on a former night, by a Learned Gentle-
man (Mr. Brougham), iii a manner so clear and
concise as convinced the mold of every person who
listened to lion, that their proceeding was perfectly
correct. !le (Mr. Courtelaiy) begged leave to state
whst were nut tier grounds on which the letter was
held to be a he( :oil of their privileges. The breach
of privilege did nut arise flout any personal affront
or injury supposed to be done to the Hon. Memo-r
for Limerick. it rusted on tins, that Thumes
Grady, not being referred to as a witness in sup-
port of the Petition, but being the father of the
Petitioner, wrote a letter to the Hon. Member for
Limerick, which, taking all the circumstances
together, as every man of sense and judgment
would take them, evidently contaiiied a threat ut
using the power of a grave parliamentrry pro.
ceediug, in order, virtually, to ()biotin luogleY.—
(Hear. Attu, hear.)—lii the case of as ordinary
Court of Justice. an attempt of a similar nature,
that of exercising its powers for the purposes of
extortion, would be severely punished. It was
one of those offences which every Court, by the
power inherent to itself, laid a right to, punish, and
did not depend upon common piciliosijimis of law.
ll' an inferior Court were allowed Ibis privilege.
ceitainly the !lathe of Curtuttoui were equally au..

Lying
thinised to famish any ad wi.;cli 14101..1 to
the authrei.y of Parliament into diserrilit.•l he
House having decided that s breach of privilege
lira been committed, the Petitioner clone forward
and wished to sliew that there wee tint sufficient
evidence of los It tying written the letter. This,
however. w to nor the case of en anonymous publi-
cation, which CAMP into the world without any
mark by which It could be traced to it* author.
if it were not written by Mr. Grady, then there was
N palpable Forgery of his signature etfi led to a
ter, written on a cnbj ci iii which he was snitch in-
terested, sod all the memoirs of which he err well
acqueinted with.--(Heer; Leer.) —%Vere (senile.
Men prepared to say thi.. or coul.l they eli!ulst that
the letter, wind' referred only to this subject, and
called on the Him. Member for Limerick to restore
the Petitioner's sots to the office of Clerk of the
Peace, was written by Thomas Grady, the father?
In his mind, no doubt could fairly be entertained
as to the person who wrote this letter. There woe
• circumstance on which perhaps the !Mau, Gee
nem! (Sir R. ‘Vilson) could give ham tome mfue.
illation, that might tend to set the whole matter at
rest. He would ask him, who gave him the tower,
continuing the limes of the persons whom it would
Ire necessary to examine on the merits of Thomas
William Grady's Pension ?
Sir ft. W 11.40,1—" That paper was given to
me by the present Petitioner."
Mr. Cot:en:salt said. if any lion. Member
would take the tumble of comparing the letter in
question with the document to which he hid re-
ferred, as lie had (I,am, they would dull that they
were written iii tin same identical
—lle hail pies! .udy no doubt on the subject, but
this renioved rims shadow of eurpilion that the
impression of the !louse one erroneous. Knowing
this fact, he would not let it hr supposed by the
world that it Particle or doubt existed as to the
person by whom the letter wile wi
He world tell the Hon. Member why it was
deemed necessary to lobe uo time iu taking the step
that was adopted ou Wednesday Meld, and the
Hon. Member for Cork Castle (Mr. 134111crc)
would corroborate Ins statement. It was merely
this—because, older all the circumstances of the
case, it was thought advisable to prevent Mr.
Grady'fireithdi awing himself from the power of this
House, a proceeding which lie feared Mr. Grady
might have resorted to. He came now to c.eisider
whether Mr. Grady had placed himself in a situa-
tion to deserve their mercy. He did nut himself,
it appeared, view his case in that light. He
did not throw himself on the mercy of the House.
Ile stated, that he cotictivad the House had pro-
ceeded on insufficient evidence. lie would most
quarrel with him for that. Ile dill not wish parties
to bow with pet feet submission to the dictum of the
hiousp, if they believed it had proceeded err°.
Imously. But it was too much to be told, when he
arraigned the decision of the House, that lie bowed
to it with respectful submission—(He..r, heue.)—
It was said, that the merits of the Petition could
not be tried without Mr. Grady's assistance.—
Let the House examine what weight was due
to phi. statement—let them consider a little what
the creme was that hid been made out by the
origiend petitienier. It Ira% this—that a coiner-
tuition took place between the Holt. Member fur
Limerick and Mr. C. Smyth, it respectable Bar-
tester, in I)obliii, which was afterwards reduced to
writing by the latter Gentleman. The minnte tit
the cenversation was handed to the Hon. Mt inloi
for Limettek, and the whole discussion on the
Petition would le, whether that minute was or
was tint adopted by him ?—(llear, hear hear. I—
fie should be gtait to know, thee., %hat part of this
case depended ou the evrilesice of Gook, they o-
ther ?—(Hear,/teur.)--elie should be glad to learn,
whether the evidence of Mr. C. Smyth, a gentle-
man, lie believed, of unimpeached character, would
not answer every purpose of the Petitioner, why.
then Mr. Grady appeared or nut ?—(lleur, hear.)
was said the son was only twenty-three veal., of
age, and was wholly inexperienced and incompe.
tent—to do what ? To produce before this House
his Stairtnrlat and to bring forward Mr. C Smyth
to verify the 'Dopy lie had set forth in his Petition.
This certainly wise attributing to the age of a
degree of incompetence which it very rarely ex-
hibited.—( Hear, hour.)--In Iwo Petitiww, tins
young luau stated the nature of the office of Clerk
of the Peace. He spewed how high and important
it wits, and pointed out the difference selhch exist.
ed between ti.e office in this country and in Ire-
land,—a diffetence which consisted la 11,
its the latter, minisieriel to the ends of (.:!I'll and
Criminal Justice, He haul held this poriqut
office for fifteen years, and yet they were now
formed, that he was so 11111ClorrICIWI-st m e lint to hr
capable of bi ii ging his own witne.s to the liar of
that House.—,' :ear, hear.)—Fur Ma troll part, lie
did not think the Petitioner deserved mercy. If •
File were matt, out, proving, lino a full and fair
investigatioo ii,to this traiisaction could not be'olo
tamed without the assistance of Nlr. Grady, it would
be fit that the Ileum- should art oil It. lint, unless
that necessity was clearly shewii, lie thungio they
would not do justice to themselves, they did um.
reject this Petition.
Mr. BOOTLE WI/AMA!! of Ilia nothing
which he had heard that etc wog bud the seisallret
effect in altering his sentiments eel this case. AII
Mr. Grady set forth in his Petition wain, that he
had been contest:tied on insufficielit testitllOtw, that
of the Nleenlier for Limerick—And that there was
no proof of the letter having been intemled foe
!Pal, its the Awitcr•rti;dtim was lust, mid
mine was not 1111,,lisiarit tit ;I. These declare-
ho:is impugned the iltroinh ,al' time. flume, and
%etc not celculated Ia rxi•iie then- weary. Thin
the letter was themit far Mr. Qom we* clear, Simile
in one part of it the Petitioner said—

(Hear, hcar.)—((r conceived the House ou,4lit no
longer to &Nit' Mr. Grady in Newgate, m 1 evidence
which sin two lawyers in this king-loin would cousi-
der sit ffi vient.—(//eor, /sear.)— I f he rightly under-
stood the letter which he held in hie hand, supposing
it to Is ire been written by Mr. Grady-(11f which
certattily he entertained no doubt)—lie did not
think that it constituted a breach of the privileges
of that Houses It merely stated the acts of a cor-
rupt leinher of l'ai 'lament ;i6usaisist the privileges
of Parliament. He cared not whether the inuenfloer
were true or false—he stopped not to inquire into
that point—boat, if they were true, he would ally,
with dlr. Grady, t'stt H person proceeding in
that manner, ought to arouse the shonhering
justice of this House, as he had excited the deep
indignation of the country. The question was,
" Did Mr. Grady mean the letter as a threat ?"
He had too liesitutruis in saying, that he did not
think it was so meant.—(/fear, hear, hear.)—
He would tell the House the reason why lie thought
so. A shameful proposition, it was alleged, was
made to Mr. Grady by the Member for Limerick,
which proceeding, it was st lied in the original
Petition, would be proved at their bar by Mr.
C. Smyth. Nlr. Grady, it seemed, refused this
proposition, declaring, that, by making it, the
Member for Limerick haul lowered and debased his
charoorter. Mr. Grady afterwards wrote to him to
this if et--" Do not deprive my child of ass office
belonging to him—if you premise to tel
111111 111 It, I will not do that, which, tinder other
circuitintances, I WOlllll, as a public 111311, feel it
my duty to slit, %sills respect to any other human
brig% bust youiself•-iiiitiely, expose to the world
your profligate otier."—(Hear.)—This, he con-
tended, was the fair and Wirral interpretation of the
'setter, winch did not, in his mind, contain any threat.
With all respect for the privileges of the Flume, he
knew that they were intrusted to them, not as a
scourge, but to be the protection of the people. fie
had taken the trouble to go down to Newgate to
see how Mr. Goody was situated, and it would, he
was sure, give pleasure to the 111111 re to be told,
that he could not be placed more conveniently or
comfortably; and though lie was obliged to pass
the first night without a bed, hi cosisvqueuce of the
lateness of the hour he arrived at the prison, he had
since experienced every accommodation and atten-
tion the place would admit of. fie had, however,
a further reason for going to Mr. Grady, which was,
to examine into the truth of his alleged weakness of
sight, and lie hail found there was such strong
ground for what he had said, that he was scarcely
able to see by day-light. Its looking at a letter, lie
had been obliged to hold it so close to his eyes,
that there was scarcely any space between thesis and
the paper. Except in persons stone blind, he had
never before seen so strong a defect of vision. lie
held in his hand this document before referred to,
I and intrusted to the only individual in the House
who could not present it, which, with the perinis-
'i an of the House, he should read.—(Read.)—Mr.
Bennett then read a letter from Mr. Grady to the
Speaker, requesting him, as he understood, from the
public prints, that his discharge from confinement
had been opposed, oil the ground that his Petition
presented the night before conveyed some reflection
sin its proceedings with regard to himself, to be-
lseve that he should be the last person to desire it
should be submitted to the House, if he had not
conceived it to be couched in the most respectful lan-
guage ; stating, that die Petition Ewd been composed
by him at a time whets Isis mind was incapable of ex.
ertiog it; proper faculties. 'teeing been fourteen
hours in confinement, without enjoying any rest ;
assuring the Speaker. that lie had not the most re-
mote intention of offendinus the House of Com-
mons, or committing any b"reacli of its privileges,
looking on them as lie dial to he the strongest bul-
wark of our glorious Constitution ; reminding him
that his son, who was pledged to prosecute a most
serioti.i charge against a Member of the House
within a short given period, had been left without
• competent adviser, as he (the writer) was incopeci-
tined !ruin rensferiug him any assistance in Isis then
condition, which would increase his difficulties every
hour. He, continued Mr. Bennett, could not but
think, that had Mr. Grady been committed to the
custody cf the Serjeant at As ms, and had the House
curve to die consideration of the question in a cooler
temper twenty-four houri' later, he would not have
hero treated with so much severity. He should,
therefore, support the motion.
Mr. B KIS thought it was impossible fur the
House tint to have acted as it had done. How the
two floe. Members, who had moved and seconded
the motion, could have doubted that the letter con-
stituted a bread' of privilege, was to I • astonish.
sag. lir believed one tit' thein haul been in the
House tarn the first Resolution, viz. 4. That the
writing anti sending of the said letter to the (tight
Hun. W. W. Quin. it Member of this House. is
• high breach of the psivileges of this House,"
hied passed arm. ron.—the was before it haul been
attempted to fix the writing and sending on 3lr.
Grady. The Ilan. Member might surely have that
night formed a correct opinion on the nature of a
letter which had heels read no less than three times.
But besides the writing and sending of the letter, it
was his ripiiiims that any Court of Justice would
have committed an individual to prison for giving
testimutiv 111 the mounter Mr. Grady had dint night
at Ilse bar. Much was said on the hardship of coin.
pelting an individual to crtoninate himself, but he
appealed to every Gentleman present, whether int
any charge against the Editor of a Nea roper, or
any other person, it was not the constant and uniform
course to summon the individual accused to the Isar,
and ask him was he or was he nut the person who
did so awl so? With rep's' to the opinion ex-
pressed by the last speaker, that the first letter to
the Member for Limerick contained too threat. all
he should say was, that knowisig the excellent use-
derstuoisling possessed by that Huts. Griiilemaii, haul
sissy ono told him beforehand that he
at such a conclasi ttttt he could tint hat
HMI lie z•lintrld leave that part of the
fliOli sense and common re:110111. Ar•

111 the •atnr Getttletnatt'r olmetvittimet.,

lawyers ill 1 lagliAl4ll 'Nut.ld have considered
ter esseltoeil tip the Nlestitter foe blurt;

lute $ hh.t. it wua to be rrtollreted
ber for the 1101111 V, n IdMyer Or HO mint
rity (we Poppose Mr. Brougham), hu
Itruuouucrtl It to br Ithrßums, sod haul

rirage any i. +viola.; wlumit 'bet hot
tea fur breach of pried. ett
81)1lostv and no expression ad' contrition. : veil their
own Members had been compelled to follow thy
same course. He knew mails instances ad mem,.
aiderate applications of that Pastore, which [rot id..
aloes filed, awl the doctrine lie was elifurtlllg, be
bad hrarul laid flown by the bite Speaker from tile
Chair. That Mr. Cilady war the writer of the let-
ters, was as plain d 4 stay tact ever made out to the
till ,afct 101 l of hit salitiessltsliding, toil lie should
plot it to the candour of the Members who made
and seconded the inatiou, whether either of them
could have any doubt of it. But Mr. Grady him-
self, by quoting a letter from the Member for Li-
merick, in his Petition of the day before, elettrly
acknowledged a correspoodeoce had been carrying
on for some time between them, and thus emotes
dieted his own evidence at the bar, because he had
there dented having written any letters to that Mem-
ber. The letter referred to, of the 2d Nrivember,
was indeed a,vei y proper ones to phew the teniper in
which the Member for Limertck wrote at that
period ; but coutainiog the expressions—" you
say I have given you mortal :otfence"gaud
ugaiii—" some lung and rather angry !viten'
hive pissed between us"—and it also no/worst-
ably established the fact of the Petitioner writ-
log and sending letters. Besides, the writing of
the Petition corresponded with that of the letters
and the mulles, so thin there could be no doubt
but the writing was brought haunt to Mr. Grady.
Much stress hail beet, laid on the alleged disadvan-
tage under which the son would labour in not 114 c.
ing the assistance of his Father an conducting what
was called his cause ; but was the prevent a cause
like that between two private individuals, to be
ma-
naged by advocates? No; it would he carried on
by the House, availing itself of the persons mum-
mooed as witnesses; of whom it ought to be re-
collected Mr. Grady, the father, was nut one. It
lied been well observed before, that the present
case had nothing to oho widi the charge against
the Member for Limeric4. It was curious
that a young man of the ;ige of 23. so long
in the discharge of the duties of an lace of ac-
knowledged importance and responsitoility, should
now be finind so incompetent. The House were
therefore to put all that ground of liberation out of
consideration. At the same time, lie had no objec-
tion to the House paying every reasonable atten-
tion to another Petition of a proper description,
nor to their deciding on the case with mercy as well
as justice.
Alderman WOOD was one of those who hail voted
for the committal of Mr. Grady to Newgate, be-
cause hearing it argued by many Gentlemen Oil
both sides of the House that lie had beets guilty of
a breach of privilege, lie had not presumed to get
up his own opinion in opposition to those of so
many so much better informed on the subject than
he, from his inexperience in such matters, could
be. Bat it must be admitted that there were
malty similes in breached of privilege. At first,
indeed, he had understood from the Member
for Exeter (Mr. Comrtenay), that it would be
only necessary to secure Mr. Grady ; though, on
his being called to the bar, severer measure* were
thought tit to be adopted. On reading over, since
that night, the letter which was construed to con-
tain the matter in breach of privilege, he did not
look upon it as calling for so severe a punishment,
though, as to Mr. Grady being the writer of it,
lie could not entertain ally doubt; and it would
have been more manly in him to have admitted the
fact when examined at the bar, and lie had since
told him so in Newgate—(Hear)—whither he had
gnus to see how lie was fixed. But the House
should lir 'aware of letting the impression go abroad
(he did not mean to say there was the slightest
ground for it, but too much caution could not be
used) that that individual was put and kept in pri-
son to obstruct the other investigation, and the
ends of justice. Ile had indeed solemnly declared
to him, that bite euistioement had prevented hint
from pursuing such measures for the original in-
grain', which, as a barrister, he had intended. Ile
(Alderman Wood) hoped the House would consi-
der that the Petitioner had already been punished
enough—coissideting his age, the want of u bed the
first night—that he had (as lie informed him) been
previously labouring under a rheumatic fever, awl
the thin state of the Howse when the order for his
committal lead hero made. Ile should accord-
ingly
vote for his being discharged.
Mr. R. Alamo would feel as strongly disposed
as ally Member of the House to act with all lenity
towards the Petitioner, hut believing that his Peti-
tion was nor of that nature winch the established
usage of the (louse required, .te could not sup-
port the proposed motion. He therefore hoped
that the Member for Cork would withdraw his
motion, and that 'mother Petit 1111 l would be pre.
mooed—into/et helm, hear j —*heti he should
willingly agree to the disc!' trge of Mr. Grady.
Ile was sure there wad not a Member its
the House inure kindly disposed tat Mr. Grady
that, the Member for Limerick, sisal be was per-
suaded that the ittsi iiii tition of the fat lire' iire•riice
bring necessaly to the son, would lie au adfhh.awl
mauve to that Honourable Gentlemen to soar for
his release. Ile hoped lie should be the last
speaker on the ptesent occasion.
Two new Members, whose llamas we voila lens
discover, spoke ; the former against, the latter in
Neon,. of the motion.

Mr. I'. AlooitE would never have been ably to
forma correct opinion on the cooduct of Mr. Gilt(ly
in the course of the c.arespoildence. had hr toot
well and rrn.l it hirmarll. The lair conclusion ta
which u prrtisal of it would lead was 10 hr found
ito u letter from the Member for Limerick la Mr.
Grady. Mr. Moore then read the letter of the 24
of November. quoted in the Petition, awl 1114111•
Nitwit, that had the writer of it conceived Mr.
offensive bti

liftt Hon. Mt itriwr tel.ft 114 d iosrotiireed d".
the pr oprieiy 41( 111/10141/44killg it. for the !import of
Woh the notort moor. giro home
rise was hrfnre the !two.. II" 444. .sir.- l!.. would
Pint rrfleve making a suitable is 51114 y In the !Lime.
Ile had tio hesitation in MMY, lig that he hid Irrett
present wliels the Itetrolittlimpr were pis-erl err the
former night, tlionVil.ll woo 14101 rehict Alice he had
remained pa..itivt.. ile Will ant opptiv-il the miler
respecting Nlr. Grady. lorsatbe there well, /40 uglily
Gentlemen present far bettor tptalitieil tlem 111111. elf
to form a correct judgment sill the prelser course
Af proceeding. 01 the lireads of puv,lr~ here
could be on doubt ; the only ipse.ttior el:144:, •I lit its
amount. He humbly solmittteil Iles, the course
lie ssiggestell was the most nil retalite.-1 leen )
'VA!THMAN wos tic*ltoul to gismo,' the
attention of the Masse for our 111111 l rot. to the sm.
titre of the imputed breiscli of privilege. It con-
sisted in laving certain charges of corrupt practices
against a Member of the Houte. But ssoultl
lie asked, be colori•trtit 4411/4 the dignity of the
House, further In lyersecii.e N snits for speaking
what might turn out to he the truth? It stppeArrti
to him that there hail hecto 14 sort ..t hatpin carry-
ioty, on between them, sod hit that was pliplled in
the threat of rxioody: the trasivaction beinrit Vie
(time of Cum. v.- Ile looped the 11011.0: aont,l
look tit the I -Iptt,tit I.lciarurd to i.e
sAficieitt, •sni tlett the 1111 l inns would 1:e 0.41,-torl to.

Mr. C. H. Ilt:TtlitNscoN slot soot consider his►-
self as having assented to :my of she votes of the I.u.t
night. Ile hart then observed to some Gctitleineot
about him, this the Hon.e Nos pr,,errollioly4 h.') pre-
cipitately ; but he slid wit think !Howell justified
in going further, except to ii;4ree with the dram ex-
pressed by the worthy A loterivoin (Wool) that the
documents its the care should hr p silted. He had
already, in the cows'. of his argoloaleor, said, that if
the common poinciple of the law of the laud were to
be observed, that no individual ass humod to eon•
demo himself—and if the testimony extorted from
Mr. Grady were put not of the ace t,
wl►at evidence remained against bins ?—that of the
Member for Limerick, the roiolivolual first accused.
He laid taken up the time of the [loose to very
little purpose, If it war supposed he Inul asserted
that Mr. Grady tool sit written tile 'cum.
/los objects in bringing forward his motion, had
hero two—first, to set right the, proceetiiusg► of the
House, and secondly, to protect Nu unfortunate
individual. Ile sl lit pursue the course sug-
gested, and astlldraw his motion, but without
gsyssg any pledge as to the nature or torso of the
11CW reboots..
The motion was then withdrawn.
It was then agreed, that the (louse, at it rising,
should adjourn to Monday.

1111 E BRITI SII PILES Si

-, LONDON,

SATURDAY, 'EettLIA itt 3'7. 111%

The CVO/of the F.frcti'iri for a Representa-
tive to serve iti 1.,C the Brien,,,li of
tirs I Ist «retool; before
Iloiloe of tointhous. The Committee elpioneetrel
ten Friday. the 12/41 of Jassuary, to examine tie
allegations contained in the Petition of Mr. As-
DEllsoN, agaiot the rettirti of Mr. HENRY SWAN N,
have reported Mr. SWANN'S election to In. null
and void, in constquence of bribery and corrup-
tion. The further proceedings on this Report hare
been postponed till Moit.lar, when, it it generally
intagiateti, a measure will be introduced for Thc
disfratichistment of *hilt borough. We siocerels
hope that such a measure will be adopted, fur ir he-.e
ileeluvidtiiils are found multi and base • tiotek!) tee
up for rale the noblest prvilegwri of she Coristiiri.
lion, it is expedient that they should lw
for i heir treason to the country, and be deptivrd
fur ever of the power of donig mischief.
The Report of the Rill fur repealing the Usury
Laws was last everiiiig brought up, mid the frit-
thrr consideration of it postporred to Nloririgy, tlic
1161 h of April.

Mr. C. Fluzctitssok made his promised Mot;oil
for the eidargetneot of Mr. (ittatt, Irom Sea-
gate ; but the forms of the Effuse requitifig that a
person, circumstanced as Mr. GR4DY i', should
first on petition acknowledge his fault, and
apologise to ti►e House, the motion was, tor the
want of this preliminary step, withdrawn. The
powers assumed on certain occasions by ti e
House of Commons ate of so undefined mod
arbitratey a nature, that few persous would choose to
hazard their !feminist safety by venturing to titir-
tion them. '('hey seen, to be above all law, and
contrary to all law, for they constitute the same
body—accusers, witnesses, jury, judges, and
ear-
culioners. In a country so clear-sighted no points
relating to general liberty as Great Britain hiss
ever been, it is strange that such a power has been
suffered to grow up. It can be accounted fur
solely by the circumstance, that the people in
their protracted and arduous contest against the
Prerogatives of the Crown, felt themselves idee:-
tilled with their Representatives, and did not
feel the same jealousy towards them in their
pretensions to power, which they imagined must
be exercised solely fur the general advantage,
as they had been taught to entertain with reGretice
to every branch of the Royal authority. The con•
sequence now is, that the House of CO11111:014 ex-
ercise a power over the litre, ties of the subject,
which, if assumed by the Crows, would be con-
sidered fatal to public freedom. Further than this
we do not conceive it safe to extend our r. marks,
lest it might please the House of Commons to con-
strue our observations into a libel and a breach if
privilege; for, with respect to every other power or
authority within the State, the law has, in some
degree, defined the point to which the liberty of
speaking or writing might be extended; but with
regard to the privileges of the House of Commons
the law is silent, and the Liberty of the Press,
which, in other matters, is the it dent hoist of
our country, and the distinguishing proof of our
liberty, sinks into nothing before the magic t.nwe of
the House of COllllllOll%

With respect to the case of Mr. GRAnY, it
appears to us marked by some circumstances,
if not of severity, at least of precipitancy. The
proceedings against hint were commentid and
concluded almost instantaneously, and evidence
was admitted against Lion which, in a case of
libel against the limo, would not have been
received in any Court of Justice in the realm.
In s.o other judicature would a punishment so
severe and humiliating es that of committal to a
felon's gaol have been inflicted without an exa-
mination of witnesses on outh, or without j.eriestr-
tiog the Driendisist or Cis Counsel to cross-examine
them. Yet now the unfortunate man must con-
fess a fault, and avow the ju‘tit:e of his poshish-
inent, before he can be relieved! lie was sent 01'
with such precipitancy to Neagate, and at so Ito.
seasonable an hour, that a bed could not he pro.
cused for him ; and thus a Gentleman Hilt/314.rd
it years, and accustomed to the ordinary outdid-
gencies of domestic comforts, was compelled to
puss • night in the society of the most dissolute
characters, subject to every pessimist income-m-
-mlre. It would argue but little a isdossi its
the House if Commons to ichise the poly
cutupeissation now in its power to Mr. GRADY.
for the fear of not • consistent th

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