The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-05-09 00:00:00

LONDON PETITION.

Sir W. CURTIS held iii his hand a petition from
the Lo►d Mayor, Common Council, and Livery
of Loudon, in Coitintoa Ilan assembled. This
petition cares ed their grievancia, and the opinion
they entertained of the proceedings of the Muse of
Commons, on severs; late occasions. From what
had been generally acknowledged the other night,
that the doors of the House should he thrown wide
open to the complaints of the subject, this petition
might in hi. opinion be received. Ile might, while
presen.ing it, in fairness state, that though it was
the petitioli of a great body, it was not the petition
of the whole of the Livery of London. As it was
however, the priition of a large body of his
comootitiolially asoembled, he felt it to
be his duty to pr,..ent it, though in wanv parts it
differed very aid, ly from what were his sentnuents
on the matter. there touched upon.
The petition was than brought up, and read by
the Clerk—(for %hie!' see our Paper of Saturday.)
Sir W. Craws moved, " That it should be laid
on t' e •ally."

Mr. Secretaiy RTDE/1, had the less difficulty in
discharging de duty he felt lie owed to t!,e. !louse
id Commons. and to himself. is oplowiliz the re-
ceptio t of this petition, in consequence of the
staiemen of the worthy Baroort alms presented it :-
4. that though passed by it 11111.111.irf of isSlllOllll Con-
&titbit:ol.4lly Coonciled, yet it was not the petition of
the great body of the Livery of London." But
'veil had it heel, the act of eve ry individual of that
large and respectable body, lie, as our of the Howe
of Coininoto, would not consent to permit it to be
laid on the taide ; for though deism up with great
ail, to avoid smile of the ollectimis which cawed
tlir rejection of the ltleddlesex petition; yet, in
mai 101 l insult, it was neither leas strosig, nor less
iihyeeiimahle. It was not neves-my for hiia to
tlinsr elle, heard the iwtilion read. rosy ob-
jrrtwn to particular parts. The imprrasiou upon
r van rn.na's I must he the same. that in its
g••11.1'41 trlior awl *wrist, it *Vstn. put .is an inault.
Whitt did the Petitioners b) a Whine
i• • Is. justice, where the di4lo) of the House r-
wlirt dal they area. after aseersing that the ilisuom
acted illegally, by say nig. that '• the totairllC•
of the Blouse preseened their sot prise at that
conduct 1" Without esiter.ng into details. however,
lie mutt say. that if the ilouse 'could consent to
receive such a pelmet) as this, it would ioderel he
dr g mill-11 in the eyes of the cimaitry. lie, tlerefore,
invented most strews...tity to the present motion.
Mr. Alderman Comae win sans there should he
any oi.jection to the raseeptimi of this petition, par.
titularly such an ebjectitio as the urged by the

Right Hon. Secretary. As for the petition's not
coining f the whole body of the Livery, such a
thing was impossible; as, how could they -expect
12,000 men, of which it consisted, tu be con-
vened in one place together, or to be unanimous ut
their opinions ? At the meeting which did take
place, there were present, as far as he could judge,
übout 3,1100 person*, and out of these not above 30
held up their hands against the petition. Unit%
this, then, be drained its not the Net of the Livery ? II
so, the votes passed by insjoinies in that House, by
.the *gine rule, might be said not to be the acts of
the House.' Since the Common Hell, lie under-
stood a counter-ineetiug hail been held, and other
• resolutions agreed to. (H the signature* to these
resului ions, which he had seen in the duily papers,
he ackuoeledged there were wetly of the greatest
respectability in the Livery ; hut is also saw sic or
eight names of persons whom he could point out
as having been at the Hall, without holding up their
hands against the petition. Ile might he told that
they found it of no use to endeavour to speak in it
popular assembly, where they could expect little
attention to opinion's opposite to those of the ma-
jority of the meeting ; but this excuse was nut sat-
ticient for not at least expressing, by a spew of their
hands, their shs,rut fount the Resolution*, &c.
which were proposed.
Sir Wst. Cuter's, in explanation, said, he had
never expres*ed himself that the petition was hot
one of a _rout body of the Livery of London.
Sir C. PRH;F:, as one of the Representatives .1
the City, and liming been present ut the meeting,
called the attention of the lionise to some of the
attending cireumstuticee. Bring satisfied that the
House of Commons bad not **sinned any power or
privilege which did not belong to them ; lie had at-
tempted in vain to deliver his sentiments on tile
subject to the persons assembled in Guildhall.
He knew many other Gentlemen, who held opinions
directly the reverse of those voted by the meeting,
but who did not come forward to declare theui,
because they saw chinsour was the outer of the
day.—/Hear! Hear!)—His firm belief wits, that
the majority of the Livery of London would never
agree to such a petition ; and it it could be ascer-
tained by any legal means, the scrutiny would bear
hint out in this assertion. The present pet -film
was the fruit of a convocation, gathered by that
junto, who procured these meetings, and by cla-
mour carried whatever they thoseht tit. But it
would be found, from the counter-resolutions now
signing, that the respectable port of the Livery
were not converts to these opinion,. No doubt,
the petition was perfect, in so far as it was the de-
termination of the Livery assembled, and it could
not, on that account, be objected to ; bat, from the
otber considerations, he had no hesitation iu con-
curring in the direct negative moved by the Right
Honourable Secretary.
Sir JAIAS SHAW said, that the petition was eer-
tautly the act of a Common Hall, legally conveued,
and, he might also edit, numerously attended ; fur,
as far as he could jndge„ there were 4,000 persons
present. It was not in his power to describe the
persous. He did observe many respectable Li-
verymen ; but, were lie asked the question, lie
would have much difficulty iu affirming that the
majority in the Hall were of the Livery. When he
stepped forward, to declare that lie could toot con-
cur in the language of the petition, he could not
obtain a hearing. That neither this hrusgusge tint
the sentiment* were approved of by • great body
of the Livery, appeared from the counter-resolu-
tions *greed to at another place. He had read
over the names attached to this other document.
and it was impossible, throughout the Livery of
London, to find &my more respectable than the
1,400 sibitatures already subscribed. In his °pi-
! Moil, there were not 1,400 Liverymen at the Coin-
-1111011 Hall. Having Matra, however, to the Hall,
that lie would present their petition, lie tilt it to
be his duty to support the motion for it lying on
the table.

M r. Wiiirnecan said, if any thing could surprise
him from the opposite side of the Hi.use, it use the
conduct of the Right Hon. Secretary (Ryde.), nut
only in his speech, but since he spoke ; for he
seemed, by his gestures, to approve of what fed
both from the Hun. Bart. under the gallery (Sir C.
Price), and the Hon. Baronet who spoke la.t, be.
sides misrepresenting what had been said by the
Hon. Baronet who presented the petition. But
even were the numbers of Liverymen assembled in
the Common Hell what was represented, was
tition to be rejected on account of the smallness of
numbers in the petitioners? If so, what dud the
Right Hon. Secretary think of the majority of 38,
by which he and his colleagues prevailed in sends
ing Sir F. Burdett to the Tower t so, what did
he think of the small numbers in the majority by
which he and his colleaguev were theineclves as
quitted ?—(Hear.) Beyond that, he called on the
Right Hon. Secretary to mark where the dignity,
where the justice, and, he might say, svh re tire
common sense of the House wits, when they came
to these and other decision* ?—Where was their
dignity when they threw the shield over delinquent
Munster,. accused of a high offence. and cool, Si.
eilly guilty ? Where was their dignity, when they
refused to Inunsh a Noble Lord, then a Secretary of
State, and the Right Hun. Gent. opposite? (Lord
Castlereagh and Mr. Neueval ?) Talk of digo4y
indeed ! Thee night if they chose within these walls;
het the people knew that it was extinct and lost
ispoti these questions. When they lied upon their
Journals. that the sale and renting of seats in the
House VI WI as common as those of stalls at a fair, I.y
what constructinu could they deny an expression of
the same feet to the pre..;?le ? Did they exiwet
the people, after these things, to approach them
tamely, and without reitinubng them of their waist
of dignity and justice ? The Right lionourNble
Secretary would reject the petition, because Ilse
construction of the House was condemned. But
was it not true what was asserted in this ie•pei t ?
Look at their Journals and they would find audio-
rity for it. A word or two more on this subje,t to
the Right lion. Secretary. A Teller of the Ee-
-1 chequer. (Nir. Yorke,) in the county which lie lied
served free twenty years, and in which lie was
resp.cted fur line private character. when he clone
again to be a candidate to represent them, ass
usiaohnonsly iejecied, and another chosen hi his
stead. The Right Hon. Gentleman opposite ought
my. as their Honourable Friends f the City
said, Oh, it be could have been heard, the re-
suite/out,' have been different." But this was in

goof
vain.; for the aesetiments of the enmity
leidge were recorded ID the Crown
seTi"ll-
their late Representative was now buns merit
Peer, and was equally a part in the consult, ti M. .4f
the House. (Hoer, bear!/ Tut Itieht lloa.
tart' acknowledged, that the petitiou was eise;i
up with art and ability, sod with a studwit, red,.
emir to av, the offence which caused ti..l (A Moo.
dlesex to he eejected. As for the latter, he a•,,
IhUlletleiestliAll;llo7te:;,hr:liditiOwt:4; frioart'tiuts"ebtel'intie'r
is he had dime for the reeeption of that from etlid.
&Mire. The present petitioners, warned by tie.
fate of the ce.unty petition. said, they %meat re-
ileevoiir to con•u:t those iipinions, which the Heil e
ewertamed ao tudispensable to its dignitt,
it
with this were they to fail ? The House were tot‘ii,
that if such pettimmi were received, other, twee
strong nould follow them. What was this? thry
might to resettle only on what was before te,„;.
Reject this petition, alter having rejected that of
Middlesex, and the Right Hon. Secrete' v, it i.e
continued lit office, might at last tell the lila,
that if they did not come in his form the
1101 come at :Ili with their complaints to the Hate.;
uC emum.ins. Tile Pe:itimier., iu thefr prat
called on the Iblitse to retrace tiler: steps, see rat
they ereisiderett as illegal, mid which he cotta.
dared as rash, and, therelore, cuucurred heeriii lei
• that advice. .1 he Plight Hun. Secretary
the hisiory of lies ma r U,ues, but *se he se-qa
with the ataie of the coulter,- lei 1773, o, weich pr.
nod he al tele sled, becaose he could tan tied a
word strong enout,h its his u Wigwag, to cts erat.
tenet theist by, he burio.v one fries the Fe-ncli
(Bstaffruz) fur that purpose. the tile,.
Hon. Secretary say, that Mr. Wilke., %hat, r
might be lilt private chat ai•ter, was sue, iu hi, i,
ststence to general warrants, .1 friend to ills Con& V
Dud he mean tie say, 'hid, in stendiag op for tree
right of the people to re-elect their own repreere-
tative, he hail not advocate I their rights ? Wechl
he, under his French eppe:letion, include tee
iliac of a Ceniden and a Chatham, eiuse
champions of the liberties of the British
If he would do this, then it was not wiiiidriftii that
•he would call on the House lent to seat. a petmea
which was out drawn up after a form of his own, of
the nature of which, however, he did not chute to
inform them. How did they now stand tin the tut..
jeCt of petitioning ? They had rejected the iet•-
tion of Miedileses—they lied received the strier,er
petition f. um Westminster ; atd now the,
asked to reject also the least oftriisite !ram
the city of London. They were thus leaving tee
right in a State of uncertaiiity, aced siraiteniug the
atiCeSS of the subject to Parliament. And was ties a
tiine to do sa ? Now, when, if the -itlijrct
not get to the House of Coin:mils, lie had so
much difficulty in gettng to the throne with his
complaints ; awl p irticularly, if three curaidaiii:a
were ag ine4. the Right flues. throu4h
whom alone it wolild now stein the Sovereign could
lie *pp.° Tont Secretary, who, with his co'-
leagues, tee defend theinselves, hal indelmateey,
decorously, and falsely dragged forward the tuti-
[nines of their Altmarels. The right of the Lively
to preiseet their addresses to the throne, from
177 u to 1775, had never been questioner! ; and in
1909, the lord Mayor, though at the Lever, was
refused permission to put their petitisa into Hui
Majesty's haul, and was directed to trineind it to
the Secrettry of State—ii direction which uu homer
Secretary Ii .1 eicr ventured to Kure—lt was se
dust the avenues to the throne were slistracti-d
Th. City of Losislou were not perinitteet evea to
deliver their addresses at Cie levee as usual, bot
were told .•nn ! send them to ray office." (Hew./
Here Mr. Ite DKR rose to explain the mistattenent
of Mr.Wletbreisd, but the latter insisted, that. as lie
Was in 11.4We:1101i of the (louse, the former hail no
right to irterrupt him. lie won d not st:rreni4-r
his right. uur listen to any eeplaniteli u 1 tier 111.,!,t
of his speech, and the Right Hun. Secretary must
wait till lie had concluded. The Heuileium
then went on to remark on the expressim of toe
Right Hon. Secretary, last night. Celt he did
believe rosy petitions were kept back at his of t.,.
aisil that it Wale impressible to read all that were pre-
seeded to the King.
The CHANCELI.OII of the EXtHEQUEIt rose to
order. The Hon. Gentleman night Merest en his
right net to lie interruptele but ht tu"'t lutistthst
it was disorderly to refer to ale) thing that had Ir.en
said in a debate on a pieeedieg 'sight.
Mr. WHtfaatiaD aeknowlerlgeil the ju tCr of
this observation. lie woilla not trfrf tee Any pe--
ceding debate, but asserted, that, stills si:i.;ll 01.-
14ms-tome to the Throne is• w• re, now eitterposed
the Right Flom SeCtet.TV, it wa• the duty of tile
House to receive petitions a ith more latitude thou
at any lumen period. He might igloo, yahoo. 1.-
regularity, refer to the Right Hon. Secremn's
letter to the Lord Mayor of London, in which H.s
Majesty's sight was made the ati . .. gy leer the 11"6-
conduct of Ins servants. Ile hal nom tit:twined.
and In-leered the fact, that 'souther Secretary. Lord
ilswkesbury, had never p•towas.ed aliy. Or, at Last,
vety few, of the Addrese.e. traminneed to lieu is
the Crown, whets the people mid Perliametit sweet
baud in Mead in their oialituti Use err a a tliss.trouil
!atilt% He !Mimed this. as all which were pre'
Gritted, were published iu The Gh:rite.—(%tl
frogs the ilietuters.)-1-low then del the sue jr,
etttlod ? who was to smoke the releittati for il4
Gflieete f Wily. the very SPlrlatilr%•
uhuin the complaints were mode. tVlstei suck
sibinaclies, as they all • lait.esited, artr Op-
posed, by nature, to ae Maje.ty's rec.-malt tlt.:
petitions of his subjects. Ministere smelt' to flue
mote dilatant to prevent the people tee hue :111
pritati .... ; hut, instead of that. they J." the
his nlinuon. It was blamer.
oeri"gl.tiatigll .driteciutaltkiren'theitri
esolution of excluding due
petitioner how the wrrou of the Kum; as h
coutiaewent. to the.dey, of tie milt sppy 104117 e
4_
(Peg Nicholsois), whose attempt I.;ave rise to
prentution. 'proved, that the
of e
nature to warrant the :ire isiou. was "tudi_ignain,
though presented at the levee,
Kramer chance of being read dens if theysa..4l.
though the Secretary of State's Ace, 11%
jesty is ..... edistely Itinded theses to the Li:
waitog. But it was ensue eat eduction that tl • h
t 4 °AI nl
id r was tut
g 3 It
nl 11
e, g
whirls he was still cutopeteht to. korw there s"
p.tstinn. sad Might at a foliage time eet • i
hj. et to reedit to him, lb hick His
w Msjes,2_
newer k", if traamoitted to tbsSeeratety f

TIM Conroe, nnaer such circumstnnces,
thhjects to pursue, who thought ill of Use n y
.t• the House, and had like him no coati home In
ministers, but t., come to the House of Commons.
IVould they, then, by receiving some and i-jacting
others, create donluss and narrow the ways to re-
dress, and a constitutioual expression of the rani.
nines of the people. The Gen!lemon oppo.ite
were well calen'ated to bring the matter to a dread-
ful issue, hot not to lead the !loose out of site
diffieulii-a into which they might plunge firm,
Every step they took they impaired the dignity of
the House mom; and lithe!, rejected this petition,
give still grouter cause to the
their iojostice world
people to ask where ••3•4 their dignity, where was
their ju-tice ? Whatever might he the issue of this
nitraion, he had only done what he cooceired to
his duty, and would give his vote most heartily
for the petition being laid on the table.
WILDERPOIICH, recollecting the extreme ro.
.tiretability of the body petitioning, and the decision
the fl:iiise had lately cone to on other petitions,
wished their deliberations iitiott the prevent. to he
re matore and well-wei7,!INI as possible. For this
.„.„,„,u he would move 'flit tbedebate 411.1011 lie
toi;mraed till to-marrow.- Calmness and reflection
were mostdeairatile in determining on the momentous
guest which now occupied their attention. They
ought to consider them in all their extents and
bearings, and, by the .'nut delay, he proposed they
would alai chew thew respect for the fir.t cite in
the world, and for the people of England. tic
could see no objection to this motion, as, comparing
the peti'inn with the other two. o• which they hail
cvng• to different decisions, it did not appear No
cleat an to enable any one, tit once, to make up his
wed, either for receiving or rejecting ; and die
remaining for 21 hours in doubt, could reflect no
ilirgrice on their proreedings. He concluded with
a elation For adjourning the debate till. to-morrow.
Mr. W. SMITH did not object to the adjourn-
ment ; but having read this petition himself, suffi-
cietitly to make op his mind upon it, he had no dis-
inclinatims toddies" his opinion upon it now. In
doing so, he would lay out of his consideration the
first part of the ohjoi,tions of the Right Hon. Se-
cretary. because, if acted upon, it would lead to
perpetual disputes, never to be settled, and state.
nails from one side end the idlier of the numbers
fur or against ei try petition. It was sufficient that
the meeting was lega;ly called, and the med.
sore ailoptc,l by. ao undisputed majnrity.—
Il• ni,4ht adil to th:a, that the attendasoce sues 6111,
old the p.•opby near!) nos. • ; bot, as he Id
In-fire, thin was not necessary to be discussed.
Neither was it to the purpose whether the meeting
was tonip..serl entirely, or of a majority of Livery.
men. All the usual precautions had been taken to
prevent strangers from being admitted to the Hall.
Ant the petition.stood on its own grounds, and be-
came it owed a number of circumstances tundra-
sant fair theta •to hear, it could not on that account
he rtjemed. The stilij• et had an ackiinvltilged
right in petition, and it was clear ill .t they would
pot strtiiiini against hat they liked Inv what they
thsiketi. • lei doing-this, naives the tans were of-
fens cc, they were bound to reeeivq it, though the
mal•, r mat!! • lac moat dos igreenble. He hail voted
for the ; -!ton of the 'Middlesex petition, Ii- nose
the off.- puts were stilted tint as opinions lint
44 ."0114r1,3r.11•4 of Met: This plain line was
then to he drawn, between that petition, so cost-
mewled, and the pte.ent, which only stated the
opioinna, conceptions, and belief of the petitioners.
To 4.n5% no Anther nu the muter now,' and not
mowing of the votes he had given on tee two 2re-
eeffing nerasismi, he could see no otrection to re-
ceiving this petition.

Mr. 114aitsst had also read the petition over and
aver, and hid nude up hie mind upon it. He haw
no ground for refuiiing it, as it contained no offence,
which, in his opiiiion, ileac rr,.! that sentence. lie
agreed with un lion. Griot lemon (Mr. Whitbread),
that, as to mratr r, the first pi.titien was the strong-
eat ; the iteottel Its And this least of all.
But I.e r jrdrd Ole second, not on account of the
term-, taut bvciiiist it was not a petition at all. Of
tile present, he dial not know to what part to object.
To that part asking, Where was the d guilty and
ja-hce of the Howe?" he would ..uhricribe
as lsa conceived both in a great degree us.
paired.

Lout A. HAMILTON did not object to the ad-
journment. any Gentlemen had not made up
their mind.% it was iin pryer they in d have
live to du BO* He con.ithrred the oppositton of the
Right Mu. Secretary as that of &limiters, and
rontideied that of all the subjects for regret and
dean. to the Illaute and c. ry. none was.° greAt
iss h..ing such au Adinini.tration, if they could
Set the llothe to go slops with them. Vur the
*O4 l'lptcl.6lolllll in the pautio.., the pets-
tioner.ll4.l the authority of the Hon«e itself, sad
it ass a tare in the Hight Hon. Secretary to ob-
jest to those which bore a &utile constractton, and
Pl"letO;rely over flow• mare offensive, which could
hear only um.. Such naq that respecting the sub..
jel of nation-I. bftsitght before them last year. which
K+ver+cto the resointion of a Hight Hon. Seem.
t* (dt. Canuilt.t) now rceonled on their
%flit% wag the main of jest of cum nkint. an all these
pennons. and the son•ce from which the mist of-
expr.w.ions were drawn. He *marinated
Ile moat cal* 00000 on+ reault, should the Hotly.' he
toteatlell on to acquiesce with Ministers in their
'anent ni-asstrea, and cure nonce that he would
tike an early (importunity to move for expuugin?,
lln ohjer tionalale port+ of this resolution from their
J..urdagio. He concluded. by alluding to the ea..
.`awn of " their ancestors tterting with indigns.
Lau at Nts.:h preetteer as were now seknowledged."
rat :lilted, why they might not reduce this (1-cla-
'Niho9 to practice, mud emulate the example of
tarn investors

%INC. Ana,/ voted against the Middlesex peti.
ti"ti betitio42 it wu a mandate, and nut a petition.
The present was worded more decorously, and he
iroulri Cote fir its being received. The petitioners
de ant affirm, but plated wittier+. with such prew
hielnary otwereatinus. " it appears to us," " ws
Iteu.ilily conceive," M iu our conception," &e.
lite Cuancti.t.un or the EICHEQUIM thought
the House would not consult its dilnity, if it dealt
"herwire with this petttiait than it dtd with that of
lie oiljected to it, not on the ground
ef Its slot corning froo the whole of the Livery ; a
Whieh Hennes he onw .tis Right P-.lttstinible
friellig bed ever thought of standing upon. kits Itt.

I lon. Frit oil le I lieu 001013 ty ruisnndcrstood
in this, and irgnmenls founded upon it
fell to the osoend ; for he slid not state it us
• reason for rejeeting the petition, but a matter of
coateilation to himself, that the vote be was, on
other accounts, ended on to give, was uot against
the whole of that respectable body. Whet he
looked on the petition, he could not help obsurring
th( *mull number of signatures; which was the
more remarkable, considering the!, on such mal-
sions, the parties were mimeos to have as many as
they could. But this was not his ground of ob-
jection. Ile objected to the petition as wholly
iu-
tended to insult the House. If any one could read
it, and think it was sod so, lie would agree that it
ought to he received. lo doing this, he begged
Gentlemen not to look at the qualifying of a
few introductory phrases, intended as a cloak
for the most offensive matter iii the subsequent
party. The Middlesex petition was rejected for the
same offence; and, if others carne with as clear a
piorpo-a to insult, how idle would they make
their proeeedings, and how would they hold them-
selves up to the contempt of those very per-
sons, if they gave the to any other reception. lf,
indeed, they agreed with the Han. Gentleman, (Mr.
‘Vhitbreed) then they would receive this petition.
For, according to his principles, they must receive
this and every other species of contumely and in-
sult.—(Hear, hear, hear.)—lle told tie-tn, let us
put up with insult, because we have lost our
dignity and justice. He told them that they
had lost the coofideuce of the people, and
ought not to expect them to come as petition-
en ought to come before them.—(Hear, bear,
hear.)—Upuit such grounds. indeed, they must
put up with any degradation that might be offered.
If the Idols. Gentleman was prepared to lead the
way to Moult—(herie, hear)—if he was prepared,
(as he bad declared himself this night) to tell the
petitioners that such was the offensive language
they ought to hold (hear, hear) then he
could not wonder at hie coining to the conclusion
he did come to. But he could not suppose such
arguments, however violently urged, would have
any weight is that House. The Hon. Gentleinan
arid, that they (Ministers) were well calculated to
bring them into difficulties, but not to fight the
battles of the House. It now appeared, if
those battles were to be fought, either against
the present petitioners or any other, they would
nut he fought by the Honourable Gentlemau.—
(Hear, hear.)—Those who fought them would
have to encounter also the opposition of that Ilon.
Gent. and his friends on the other side—(hear,
heard—And be dud trust there was spirit enough
in the House to siiew that they would tight their
owe battles against all such elle:111es, even though
aided by die lion. Genthonaa.—(llear, hcar.)—
Ile would nos object to the adjournment, though
he did not See much necessity for it. He had con-
sented to it ou the other petitiota,• and no rea-
son to repent of the delay, as Gentlemen came
more deliberately prepared to reject a most insult-
in; proilsicti 4444 • He trusted tliis deluy would have
a similar result. The Honourable Gentleman had
told them to book to their Journals, as if they were
only to do that, and on nal, uffroeive paper that
was presented to diem, go intd a nice balance of
word., to see kV hailer it wtN a ii_tUlS,VSerli little
lea. Insulting than the preceding. If a petition
was OffrllSlWC•tilitt was the only groood for thettdecl-
slot:, without having recourse to precedents.—With
mopes t to the offence lathe pre,ent Petitiothit could
not be read without being obvious to every eye.—
He requested to know, if their rights were to be
questioned in the manner they were, by persons ap-
proachitig to the jowls of petitioners ? AVere they
to be told, not only that their proceediargs were
not legal, but that nothing could make them legal,
and that they were elmie the King, Perliainent, and
every legislature twin, earth. Were they to be told,
after being thus accused, that, Irons the construc-
tion of the House, no surprise tens excited by such
conduct ? Was there no insult in expressions of in-
dignation and disgust at their votes and decisions ?
Was there no insult in telling them, that they hod,
by their misconduct, lost the remains of the cou-
fidenee of the people? Could there be a doubt of
the most deliberate insult being offered under the
specious mask of it., humble conceptions ?"—A$ for
what was said of himself, lie had given proof, by
voting for receiving the Westminster Petition,
which, on dust subject, was at least as strong as the
present, that this was not the ground of his ob-
jection. That petition had been allowed for,
as agreed to in the beat of the moment, very shortly
after their Representative was beet to the 'rower.
But there could be no excuse for- others, con-
structed, weeks after, by persons, whose conduct
primed that their most anxious wish was to vilify
and degrade the House of Commons. Sorry was
he to see that there were persons in the House
ready to assist them nit nny terms—to take up the
language of the strongest, amid by their example
and precept, instruct others to use the same.—
/Wear./ Were they to receive this petition, then
it would he on their Juurtialv. and afford another
happy precedent for the Honourable Gentleman
and his frooids on the other side. But the House
would no: permit it. Toe} would have petitions,
not according to any form, but touched its lan-
guage resorctful awl decent, its ordered by the
law of the land. (near). Should petitioners use too
strong expressions, In hest, or inadvertency. they
would. not to.. captiously take it up; but when it
was intended to insult them, nothing but weakness
could ever induce them to receive the degrading
affront.

Mr. Wilmot:us said, that he did not eneourage
abusive or improper petitions. The present peti-
tion was from au acknowledged body, who had a
right Madams, the King upon the throne; and he
had no hesitation to say, that, in his opinion, the
petition was not insulting.--(Hatr, hear.)—lt was
collo rued onto such a alesuiog, not from any thing
contained in itself, hut from the disposition of the
House to sevk offensive laud /Hear./—The
'Right lion. Gents had charged him with accusing •
the HflllMe of want of dignity ; he would assure that
Right Hon. Gent. that strong as he might consider
the language adopted by him, lie did not himself
consider it strong etimigh to express his detestation
of the want of dignity mid of justice which he had
occasion to observe in the House of (7ommons.
Say the Right Goa. Gent. what he would, he (Nit.
Whiihreoil) would never g;ve over maiiitaining the
cause of the people, eiro against the House of

Cantrontsir, when that Minos rnauifested to dis.
pmisition to oppose them. Even if the Right
Houountble Gentleman's rinse was just, he was
riot capahleof niaiataining it. One Parliament had
been dissolved by him—the pre.ent had been flowed
by him.—lt arose out of a disgrsceful and bigatted
cry, and no one could say but it might be its fate
erininate as time former did. lie could not sav
w hen it would terminate, but, %btu it did, it would
not he without disgrace.
Lord A. I-1 NI LTON explained.
Coplain PARKER said, that shout three mi-
nutes he would give strung era 0,1, fur rejecting
the petition. He would reject it, because tire
House *Mould not lie insulted, directly or indirectly.
It was an artful petition, intended to entrap time
House. Tire petitioners had set lip their opinion.
against those of the body they pelitioned, and it
became that body to shew diem that they were
mistaken in thinking so. As to the speech of the
Hon. Groileinan opposite, (Mr. Whitbread,) he
thought it was hardly hor w him to bring the Tel-
ler of the Exchequer every slight 111/110 tire carpet.
Mr. Alderman Comic sod, that the small mem-
ber of ognaturea to the petition, was in cousequence
of a Resolution of the £l.ll,lliniting the number.
Mr. hymen, in explanatiomi, that he had not
shut the door against the petitions of the people.
'fire conduct which he had purmed, was the same
ispou Iwhich tile /1,111. Ge•itle.miati's (Mr. Whit-
bread) own friends acted, power.
Mr. Watr■utan said, that tic hatiumver formed
IS parr of any administration. lint the Right Hon.
Gentiemoi. instead .if considering what conduct
other Ministers had adopted, should consider what
would hest become himself.
The amtudinemit &IS than carried without a di-
vision.

ACTION AGAINST THE SERJEANT.
The SPEAILICR mited, that he was desired by the
Serpent to inform the House. that he had been
served with a process of law. at the suit ofS,r Francis
Burdett.
Upon which' the Ctiascat.t.oa of the Excite-
smut moved, " That it sh.add lie referred to the
Committee already appointed ;" which, after a few
words Iron, Mr. Tiausar. was agreed to.
It sea, then moved, mid curried. that the Serjeant
should he called in to Mate particulars; hut he not
bring in the way, the House proceeded to other
business.

Lord A. Ilfasitt.Tott gave notice, that he would
move, that the resoltitiOUS reineCtiug: the Right
lion. Spencer Perceval. and Lord Castlereagh,
should be expunged from the Journals. It was
not his intention to revive the question, which the
House had already disposed of ; his object was
merely to remove a memorial from their Journals,
which must go a great way to justify the language
which had been of late adopted towards them.
Mr. CANNING said, that hr rose to wove for
such papers, as lie understood nu objection was to
be made to. lle then moved for an address to
His Majesty, fur copies of the dispatches of Mr.
Catiiiii.g to Mr Frere; also of Mr. rrere to Mr.
Caunin4 ; together with those of the Marquis Wel-
leaky. At a future day, he should probably move
fur other papers, connected with the subject, but
at present lie forhore, as some objections %night
be side to graiitiog tbeni.—Tlie naotiou was
agreed to.

MACAO.
Mt'. PitENDIEBOAST pteinced his motion for certvin
papers, relating to the occupatiou of the Island of
Macao, by the British, a ith some observations, w bleb
he debt ered in so low a voice as to he nearly Mao-
dible. When the !louse considered the connection
between this rountry and China, lie was sure that
it must see the necessity of inquiring into the cir-
cumstances relating to the capture of the Island.
The expert Lion. he said, was undertaken in conse-
quence of the representations of the super( ;trees
to the Goverionent of India, and Admiral Drury
landed them, not as an ally, but as a conqueror,
and hoisted the British flag. The event was pro-
ductive of ■ misunderstanding, between both Go-
vernments, which might produce the worst ef-
fects, ry cutting off the trading intercourse.—
To prevent such a consequence, nod obtain a true
insight into the nature of the case, he should move—
. " That there be laid before the House, eopies of all di..
patches from the Hoard of Athatrally, Me Court of Direc-
tors, and the East India Company, to Admiral Drury, re-
lating to the Expedition to Masao. Also, copies of all the
Orders which may have been sent by the LorslS
Cummu-
sionera of the Admiralty, touching his It ports upon the
subject of the Expedition. Also, copies of all orders or opi-
Mons from the Commissioners for India Affairs, w►ic► may
have been transmitted to the Go►ernur-General of India,
and to the Factory of China, upon the same subject."
As this motion necessarily embraced a great num-
ber of papers ; it was his wish to be appointed one
of a Committee to select such as were necessary.
Mr. DU N DAS said, thst the Government of Eng-
land, considering the relation between this country
and Portugal, hail thought it expedient to autho-
rise the taking posses,ion of the Portuguese Settle•
meats in India; but, at the same time, t twake an
exception in favour of Nlae,so. Ile then read the
instructions sent out to that effect. No orders
whatever could go from this country without the
concurrence of Government. If Lord Minto in-
truded to act at all upon the statement of the su-
percargoes, he could not submit it to tn.. Govern-
ment. As to Admiral Drury. he had acted in
strict conformity with his instruction•. 'rise House
could Lace no conception of the 1314:.. iii papers
whirh the motion called let ; and he was sure that
it must see no blame could possibly attach to the
Executive Government.

Mr. G. Joirtaroms. aid. tint any thing which
went to involve the I uuntry in a quarrel with
China, was entitled to the utmost investitition ; awl
if any raw could be made out wrong enough to
call for it, it was that .taierl by his Hots. Friend
(Mr. Dunda,) where it was evident that the instruc-
tions of the Government had been disobeyed. The
worst of coosequeuces urght follow from such
conduct.

Mr. WALLACK oppescd the motion. from which
he thought that great inioMetileller must result.
Sir Hotta roensts thought that every paper,
which was necessary to vindicate the conduct of
the gallant Admiral. %hoot.' be lad before the
House. 1f all the papers moved for were ton many.
the motion might be so qual.tied as to obviate that
objection. Ile was .ittre that the gallant AJ I
could defend himself; a.al as to the ii.dity of the
measure. he should only that it wJ4 the height
of folly to excite any sp.ri• of oppoottou so the LA-

nese Government, which might tend to inferft
with our trade. It appeared to him that i 1111111.•
tatiun tout rest somewhere. Tneie were four par- •
ties concerned : the Government of this eouritr.
which was acquitted ; the Governor-General of
India, the East India Company. and the Supet-
(Anima.
Mr. Geier opposed the motion. T.. go any
farther would be, iii effect, to reciill the
meat of India. No charge was made aptist the
Coinniatidtr-in-Citief of the Expedition ; uu the
contrary, he had conducted I •eif with the Kre at-
est propriety end disi•roion, and was fully apprii*e.l
of Ly the Court of Directors. lie should thew.
fore oppose the production of any paper* whatso-
ever.

Mr. PRENDERGAST mark a few olwe•vations
reply; and content/el, that Lord Munn *us the
responsible person, and not those wlio save tits ad-
vice.

Mr. DUNDAS eXpliiineil.
Af..'r a few words from Mr. A.SELL TMOIN
the IllOtiOU was negatived without a division.

WEST IN DI A DOCK COM l'A N I'.

Mr. BARHAM, aftern few re it Irk, up I' the i• -
'dilution of this Company, and the woo, it! lei
which it was created, moved the followiicz n man.
non, " 'Phut it appeared to the House that the
West India Dock Company, in dividing to pit:
cent. without deducing the Property Tax, Fuld és-
ceeded the extreme rate of interest allowed by tit .
39th of His present Majesty." lie said, tat iirer
this resolution was agreed to, it was Lis intention. to
bring in a declaratory Bill.
Mr. lIIBUIERT said, that every partiPular u. o t
this subject had been laid before a Cominit;e-i„
which had come to a determination, that Ilse affairs
of the Company had been conducted in a fair and
candid manner ; at the same time it had bard
upon this single point, and reported ita opinion on
it, which was, that they did not think it warranted
by the letter of the law. The Comps iy had di-
vided ten per cent. but not clandestinely. ; it was
published in all the newspapers. Perhaps they
would think it not improper to continue this indul-
gence, as an encour.igement to the great under-
takings of the Company. lie concluded with
moving, " That the debate should be a Ijourned to
this day six months."
isr. BARING said, that he would support the re.
solution, unless the Gentleman nopo.ite -would
thew that it would be better concluded iti a Court
of Law.

Mr. M•auTATT said, the Legislature, on form-
lag the society. gave them a monopoly, but only
to certain extent ; for after it went bey and 10 per
cent. the rates on ve-sels entering their docks
should be reduced. It had been argued, that they
only took 10 per cent. as regulated by the Act of
the 314 of the King; hut if they could not abew
by that Act, they were excluded frmu paying h.-
come tax, and were under a different law Ir
all other incorporated bodies. They had not a
right to subject any class of men to hear their ex-
penses; and the West Inota planter should not be
put in a worse situation that' his fellow-010.j ct•.—
Under the-e considerations, the resolution should
have his full support.
Mr. lIUGUAN opposed the measures ou the .
ground that the law was open to a revision.
'rite ArToottax-GeilltßAL stated, that, from his
knowledge of the great benefit that the docks had
been to the public, and the excellent rummer they
had conducted their affairs, he would be sorry to
give en opiition to their i•. Jury. It we. cert.:ll the
public could apply to a Ciiiart of Lao, but it would
be troublesome and umiecessery. as he was con-
vinced any Resolution of that House, which set
forth they had acted itnproperly, would be complied
with, and they reverse their conduct. He thought
if they hail considered the Irt:er of the faw, .tiley
ought to have paid the 104000 e tax out of the 10
per cent. They might have been Ird away, that
because the East India and South Sea Company's
were excluded from the general tax, tiley were
also entitled to the same exempt:on, but thei. body
was quite different. He thought it his duty to
Mate his opinion, and was sorry that it was not in
his power to support the company. He would there-
fore give his vote in favoor of the resolution.
Mr. BARHAM replied ; and said. hr did not tin.
dertake to dictate what mode the House should
pursue ; he had brought the question before them,
and it was for them to decide how the abuse should
be done away with.

Mr. 111118FRT spoke in explanation.
Mr. WM. Spirit was of opinion that the rouiatry
would not be oblig d to the West India Dock
Company for any incidental advantage they might
derive. for 'hi ought not to foiego any thing that
tended to the general wrlfa e. He coin Ind, dby
assenting to the Resolution.
The SuLtixrua-G•rigitst., after passing an en.
osmium on the general conduct of the We-t italic
Dock Company, acid. he perfectly *greed with the
arguments and opinion of the Hon. and Learliod
Gentleman, the Atturne)-General.
Mr. Jens Soma 44141, thedilEett' ties of the com-
pany had been very lately got over and it .1.. by
the means of his late Hon. Friend, (the (umina, ),
now no more, that they had hero overcome.
After some observations from Mr. W.
Mr. G. orge Johts.totte. Mr. Witham. and Mr.
Primeval, the SPEW'S put the question on the
Amendtuent, which was negatived without a di-
vision. The original question was then carried.
DUKE or BRUNSWICK.
Mr. WHARTON brought up the bill to enab!e
His Majesty to settle an annuity on his Strews
Highness the Duke of Brunswick; which was
read a first time, and ordered to be read a second
time to-morrow.

The other orriert of the day were ttwo Jiroo-ed
of. ■nd the House adjourned. at Tara La c o'CLot t.
to Out day.

We read. with touch mossfaction. the Oli-es
lions of a Naval Olfiter ou the pamphlets et 1..nl
Ilat.ett.ms and Mr. Rose, respecting a Nav I
Arwood at Northtleet ; we trust di.- judscu las
salutary hints thereto contained. will be duly ~
sidered by every Mesuber of Patliatnent, Mbu Mill
have to vote away %urban immense sum of ;
and. in (act, by all persons samara at all
in promoteme such a work. It is twitch to t e ~1.
h thatN stvaelsr tine to 'i:o llikw". :see f ilul a alr-s iPet!:
fill
question.