The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-05-06 00:00:00

. .
• • . .
.thata precatlent in a case in exact. couformity with
theereseet one which atands reeOrderE in yourJerir-
nal: be read, I mean the carrot Sainoteland limns
Shenherd, which, will be tiiniel entered on the
13th February, nun, and ,Of March follow-
Tltis precedent was neconlingly read by the
Clerk, brit very inaudibly to the Gallery. All
we could hear was, that tome persons, Samuel and
_Francis Shepherd, Members for the llorriugh of
rlsteerport, in ,e Isle of Wight, hating been charg-
ed with nutorions briberv, by giving grunt suers of
money and suppressing evidence in order to procure
the return of a Member for Wootenbastret; the
. Cliar:ze was allowed to I.e proved by eviden the
bar of the House, and hieing found guilt
were Petit di the Tower of London.
This being read, the same Hon. Gent. be
call the Intention of the House to the question of
form, as it had been amen-Man that case, and which
upon the same footing ought to be observed in this.
It appeared, that no sooner was the charge• of cor-
ruption brought forward reenlist these individuals,
than a day was appointed for hearing evidence at
the Bar, in order to substantiate it ; afterwards a
day am; aepointeri to bear the parties in defence
by themselves or by their Counsel at the Bar, nod
being found guilty, pittlishment immediately hal-
lowed. Upon these grounds I feel it any duty to
_proceed, as that precedent directs, and having
formerly given notice, that I should upon their day
bring forward a charge atrain.t some individuals of
His Majesty's present Administration, I according-
ly now sele'et the Right Hon. Speockr Perceval, as
having through the means othe Rt. lion. Henry j
Wellesley been guilty of corrupt practices, in pro-
curing the return of Members to this House ; as '
also that Lord Viscount Caatlereagh has heel'
guilty of annilar corrupt practices, and I do there-
fore, Mr. Speaker, move. s That the charge
against the Right [lonoorablo Spencer Perceval
and Lord Viscount Cestlereao be heard at the
Bar of this House on Tuesday next.
Sir F. EVOOLTT seconded the motion.
Mr. Seencca Ps newer.. 01 know not what may
have been the practice of this House in the year
1700. wherein toe precedent which his been read, is
to be found ; but ever sure I have had the honour
of re seat in this House, lawyer till now heard of a
change befog made, without any idea being gistru
of wmt was its nature. Since the charge now
brought aguinat rue is of such a general nature, I
can do loathing Ind make any bow, and leave it to
the linos., to discuss." Here Mr. Perceval with-
drew, and wan soon nfterwards followed by his col-
league Lord Castlereagh.
Sir Jona Amtrantas.a—" In justice to those
individuals who have now withdrarn ; I put it to
the Hower whether on a Charge so made against
Members of Ills Majesty's Administration; or emu
agaiust rely individuals in the lowest sittnition, what.
ever, we are tumid by certain principles, which
must upon all twearichis reviles, Attu conduct, and
we ought to coliairier those principles before we re-
mark SO eatraordiriar- •ii y reaolution as that now
made. (hear hear !) fur whelps the charge we are
to assume, Isecautie the Hon. Gentleman. hiaite- •
funned the Howse of a charge of corrupt:Mu ea**
iqq, his runid, that Mr. Spencer Peres-sal, mid k.otsla
Vgaeouot Castlereagh liars been guilty of mule-
throg or 'mother r NVllat iiiforination has lie
given us, that can entitle us to call upon these
feriae:lahs to answer this charge ; or how can they
instruct their enittisol to support them at .lie
Bar hare always understood that Parliament
regulated itself by the practice ob.erverl in
Courts of Law, in regard to judicial iuqui-
ries, and web it ever heard of before, that in attY
place that is called a Court of Justice, a matt
wars put aeon his trial, and called' upon to
make les defence against a charge the nature of
which he did not know > Does the Honourable
Geutlernon choose to found this charge merely
upon vague reports and inforination ? Ulna such
ii question Fla this, 1 do not 'peak as from this tide
of the House, or f Met bide. alien I say, diet
I take this to be a part of a gent:nil system, that
seems to be adopted by some individuals of scat-
tering .abroad loose and iudeemite accusations,
although they themeelvta be couvineed they have
riot the smallest inisaidatimi. They pretend that
there sppeareal to be something or other in these
reports when they find it turns out that there is
nothing. This, however, is not sufficient to jus-
tify iii in encouraging such a charge us the pre-
sent one, and I think the Him. entletnria who
Las brought it forward has totally mistaken hie own
precedent. As far as my recollee:ou of it goes, 'I
believe it will be found that there was a lung
and tedious eiaminatiou, and investigation of
its merits before the Committee of privileges,-.e
(Here Mr. Ms... Mocks said the [boor:ruble Iluroiret
had Letter look at the Journals.) *. The Honour-
able Gentleman says I had better look at the
Journals, but it requires more bate than what I
can at present bestow ; but I urn sure, if they aru
examined, it will be found fiat there was not only
a Jore: examination, but long iliseusaiona recording
at. lam convinced, upon the whole, that the pre-
cedent alluded to does not bear him out, in nettiag
any person open his trial upon this sort of 'uremia-
tion.

a..

Sir FRASCI3 BURDETT Stateftt as his opinion,
that the Ifotiouriablo Mover was 'perfectly justified
in this course of preilitiltr;e, by the precedent be-
fore him, and it was *oh that ground he set-aided
the motion. It was astflirient that Members in that
House heard that* charge was offered to be proved
• sit the Bar, to josiify them in hearing it, in order
that they might afterwards judge whether it was
necessary to isnydefetiee against it; for lithe charge
was groundless. it would amount to ajustificatioa.
He was surprised to hear Huy one pretending to be
the friend of the accused, speak against the pre-
priety of hearing the proof now offered to be ad.
(hided.

Mr. Bfflol/1.1.11—" Tiisteria of expecting that the
• -friends of the accused would have expressed sur-
prise at this motion, I should rather have thought
it would have been their duty, if they really wish
to act as their friends, to have got up and seconded
the motion now made. For my part,l conld not
have conceived it possible that such a motion as
this would hare been resisted. The tone and feel-
lop of the !louse, and of the Ministers in particu•
moigt be strangely. forted if they con sit iu
• • Weir places and hear wools -accoailtiona, witholit
,• *. going into evidence. We have heard it said, that
•••.,
•

•