The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-01-28 00:00:00

POOR LAWS.

Mr. STURGES BOURNE gave notice, that to-mor-
row he would move for a Return of the Sums paid
to the Poor in the years 1748, 49, and 50.
ADDRESS TO THE PRINCE RECENT.

Wournouss, rose to move the Address to
his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and spoke
iii the fullowuug meaner:—•" In rising to move the
Ailifiess which I ain,about to propose, I feel that I
should ill discharge my duty, if I did not take
this iarly opportunity of adverting to the deep,
grievous, and of:Meting event, which we, in common
with the whole empire, have lately had to deplore,
and which lids overthrown our fairest end most 114111..
game huger.--(Hear, hcani—From the arduous

circumstance of preceding times, our attention
had bees) for so mussy years engaged to external
topics, that it almost seemed as if we were divested
of soy internal subject to occupy our +melanin.
But the return of a peace invited our interest to
our own immediate situation, mud we rested Si' coils
&lent and humble rapes:intim' that the 4rutlual
expansion of native excellence which we saw then
before us, might have auspiciously attended the
natural course of hereditary Meet:4.loll to the
throne of these realms. Such were our hopes, our
loud and pleasing anticipations, and the bright
promise of our prospects ; and who is H that sloes
not mourn at the event which his so suddenly
bereft us of them, and that does not feel the con-
doleoce due to the illustrious sufferers on this
melancholy occasion ?--(Heir, hear.)-1 coo-
but Attempt feelingly to paint this bitter reverse
—it would not suit the duty I have to perform,
End the persons whom I have to address. Mild
lustre suits not the dignity of the subject and peace-
ful gravity of the season. Without intruding too
deeply on the feelings of the sacred person wl
we have this day to address, we may yet say end
Parliament sympathizes with lam in his heavy mis-
fortune, and associates with hint iii hope as it asso-
ciates with him in grief; and as this knowledge of
our feelings, in common With those of the emissary
at large, Moat alleviate the royal grief and
atfiic-
tiou, so we may presentee 'that the extent of our de-
pression on this occasion will chew (Mr indelible
attachment to the Illustrious family on the th
of these realms. Our feelings are inseparable from
the moral energies of the country, which will uphold
us under the pressure of every calamity, Deeply
as this subject must have engroined the feelings+ of
the Royal Person whom we have now to approach.,
it has not excluded his attention from the general
state of the country, aid the necessity of looking
to its future situation. We have heard front the
Royal Speech, that continued amity prevails
abroad among our foreign relations; that at house
we have increased revenue, augmented stability of
public credit, revived domestic industry. Its allu-
sion to this ',leasing state of general prosperity, iss
speaking of matters of vital interest, out of which
grow the strongest objects of public attention, I
should he either the victim of credulity, or the
agent of delusion, if I made use of a single ex-
pression which I did not firmly believe. The
change in the state of our affaire must he obvious
to any ordinary observer. lis commerce, there was
no longer to be seen that stagnation, which seemed
more as if it were struggling for existence, than
seeking for extension or advancement. 'll-..e now see
that it is not only active and vigorous, but that it
has revived with an elasticity which denotes real
and substantial success. This is a happy and a
prosperous change, and it is attended with that ap-
pearance over the face of the country which denotes
the retorts of peaceful and industrious habits.
Imagination loves to dwell ois this good sight, i:aid
to find that the heated sound of disaffection is now
banished from the land. The diffusion of reli-
gious instruction is also most properly under the
Royal eye, and an increased number of places of
divine worship is recommended to our particular
attention. With respect to our foreign relations,
the Treaties with Spain awl Portugal, relative
to the Abolition of the Slave Trade, are
more particularly brought under our 'consideration.
If any thing could be added to the impurtasit
advantage to be derived from these Treaties, it
must be from the reflectiou of the moral good we
have effected by thew, and the effectual rummer in
which they narrowed and circumscribed the limits
in which that trade could be still curried on, so as
that it might almost be said to be drawn to the
verge of its final extinction. Thus will England
have banished this detestable trade from the pale
of Christendom by the merciful interposition of
her influence and authority, and future ages will
bless the kingdom by whose means an ultimate
triumph was obtained over this detestable and ini-
quitous traffic. Abroad we have overthrown a mi-
litary despotism—at home we lave secured the sta-
bility of public credit, and the happiest and gnosis
permanent prospects.—( Hear, hear./—The
Gentleman concluded by moving the Address to
his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, which was,
as usual, an echo of his Royal Highness's Speech.
Mr. WINDHAM QUIN rose to second the Ad-
dress, and 'spoke as follows :—" I aims, Sir, so billy
conscious of my own inability, that I must preface
the few observations I shall have to make, by putting
in a claim, l am afraid a very large one, for your
considerate and patient indulgence.— ( Cries of
" Hear,"froui both sides of the /lousy./—Nothing,
I sun sure, call disturb the unanimity with which it
is our cummois intentioss to approach the Throne on
the present occasion. The first topic alluded to its
the Address proposed by my lion. Friend, is of a
nature well calculated to call for our universal
condolence—it refers to a national mid unexpected
loss—to the loss of one most eminently distia-
guished for every virtue and accomplishment that
adorned the highest qualities in her sex. It was
some consolation for the sufferers more nearly
afflicted to know, that never was there a deeper
feeling of sorrow for their misfortune, or u more
general and sincere expression of sympathy for
their ufllicttun, than that which pervaded every rank
of society oil this most melancholy occasion.—
Let the more immediate sufferer 'effect on this
coussolatiois, and know that hie carries with him its
the bosom of Isis retirement, the blessings of every
man who has a head to think, or a !wait to feel.—
(Cr ies V." Hear, hear.")—There tiresome subjects
which may uphold ass usiskillul advocate, but this
is one which excludes all aid from particular ex-
pression or feeling in urging it—it is one which
cannot 1* dwelt upon : all that we can say is, that
it holt pleased God to take her suddenly away who
was the pride and hope of her admiring country ;
that the sorrow for this visitation has been, and
continues to be uniform and universal ; that it per-
vades every home, and bedews every countenance ;
and thin, cast your eyes where you will, north,
south, east, west, they moat fall insois the battle
deep and general gloom which skews the nature of
the loss and extent of the calsimity.—(Hear, /sear.)
—All that was mortal of the Mutsu Sous Personage,
whose loss we so poignantly deplore, it is true, Is ss
been removed from us ; bust. her none can icier
disappear from our view, and the recollection %%loch
it inspire* shall ever be tllbililorti so our bruits
asuoug our deateat and most lasting uffectississ,—
( Laid cries " Hear.")-1 now color to touch is)
a very genital wanner upon tle other topics contests-

eel in the Speech. The paucity of cloudier for the
diffusion' of religious Onstluctiono, lots been deeply'
felt by the growing population of the country. awl
has hero properly brought to view iso the Royal
Speech. The great ituportaisce of religion nerd
not lie urged upon the Hume. The history of
the events of the last 30 yea's Atoka too strodaly
the intimate conoexion between the stability of the
thrones of time pares, and the morals of the people.
With referetice to the situation of the Continent, 14
as much as our MIIOIOIIII 'tire 11:010•I'lltli, what 1111-11,
had Iteur4 WAS 1110 Si praperinu, and there cuuhl
lie bitt one feeling on the flit tally disposition' of
the Allied Powers. TO cultivate this feeling oat
uses coiaideratiou
but
et
ould
nt nor proper to
he due
as.vPotarirrirutv:itrilivi.which; relax itr'3llv- rultic‘irelet .s'se*t. in this
pre.tere-
ib:e:
them efficient and entire. I hope the day
sill never strive, or at least that it will he very
distmr, nitro' we shall find ourselves unable or en.
willing to assert our national character, and wind'-
cote our public honour. A wise policy, however,
rests its safety oil honourable, secure, and perms..
cent means, fixed an a permanent basis. The
view of our domestic situation has beets truly de.
scribed as most flattering. The general improve.
mem of the revenue, particularly during the last
quaiter, as compared with the pre.cedong one. was
manifest and iinportuot. %Viten I consider the in-
terual improvements of the country ill its 111Hilthe.
tures, imports, exports, its trade in every branch, the
increased value of !tondo he improved value of Mkt-toil
navigation, I see at Wier a COlllbilllllloll presenting
so molly details to thew the great iniplovement that
hail lonely taken place, that I feel nu argument eau
be necessary in support of a fact so obvious to all.
Indeed, this improvement had bee:* developed to
aft extent beyond whin even the most
culator could have anticipated. flow ontlerent was
not the state of things last year in the interior of the
cousstry ! It was impossible to go any where with-
out seeing strong and able-bodied soca pining for
stem M einploymeett ; instead of nits brio:: the case
at present, the value of labour of every 'mini was
considerably iota-eased hi price. The irom.workis
were all in active employ, and the iron which a year
ago had falleo to 91. a Lao was now up to 141. The
Funds which, months ago, we:-e at 53, uele
79 or 80. At the time to winch 1 refer, there was
ill fact no employment fur otooley, now you hod it
flowing through the several channels of re.
productive induatry. The change of the times was
observable in the different value of landed property,
and the facility Of disposition in all matters relative
to landed property, which was not to he found so
late as a year past. 'fitere is every appearance of
permanency in this most excellent prospect, and at
the same time the saner probability of a still further
increase or it, from the kIIOWII activity and habits
of the people in all pursuits of industry. To all
these beneficial changes, they were to add their sure
accumpautment,internal peace and tranquillity', pre-
seining at tine contrast to those scenes of riot which
disgraced the metropolis and other parts of the
country at the close of a former year. This change
was the consequence of those precautions and pro-
per means suggested and adopted by Government
for securing public peace and tranquillity. The
interests and future prosperity of the country occu-
pied the serious attention of the lioyal Personage
whose Speech had been deliteted. The House will,
I hope, feel the necessity of pursuing the measures
which have improved the state of the country, with
that care and diligence which the subject requires.
‘Sre should well consider the means by which our
arts, and civilivation, and contano ce, have been
formed and extended, and looking on them as the
true inheritance which we are hound to preserve.
secure by our wisdom and energy their perpetuity.
mid, us Englishmen, preserve tile principles Irons
a hich they emanated. The Tieaues unit Spans
and Portugal have been well described as shoving
the noble spirit odour country, and I am sure that ill
fostureages they will be recorded to the honour of
this nation—they will form the doctoneats from
which hereafter it teal be said, that, its the midst of
our difficulties, distresses, mid struggles, whets
we were lighting not only for the preservation of
our liberties, but esen tor our existence—that at
such a moment Eitglatid neglected tint the gloolics
of humanity, and ill securnig her oat; freedom moil
vitoolicating her owl, honour, at the same time was
not unmindful of the larger sphere of best-hit she
was destined to convoy by attemlitig to doe wants
and interests of the bunion race. If the expense
incidental to such achievements were matter of fat,.
tiolious unimadversiont, I would say—. Look back
to the situation in Yawl' you stood at the tone
of your danger, wool calculate tour prize it'
the struggle by the value of all you have re-
served.' I beseech the (louse to take the paths to
weigh this momentous comparison, alai at the sant..
time to look ut what might have been nue 'molt
tot adopting a olitirrelot hut of I. at
the sort of security into which we might have beets
lulled, by at hollow, imuerore, mod neat-henrys
4peaaiicire:i Mark the risk, and mmuliirk ievewdli
oaut r
ownbrdres.s.
1111E91ft:et. and '4lllllly, but the tumults of
.Europe
nice theirs to tier triumph
for them otiouthilated the most terrible Woolly that
ever coveted tile face of Europe. We wire now 0111
the highest p:iinacle on which a nation could be
thepl tt cur
theit• the
oh. It, thi s ote
:td stretchaiiraol7,f itspe tiza
al tilrney
the
and justlyo
0.
the world."—(/;ear, hear, hear.)
The Ser.air ea then put the question from the
Chair on the Address.
Lord Aurtione.—" Mr. Speaker, extretnett-
sorry should I be that any observation !funnel noel
reciting escape from my lips, which might be its
the least degree calculated to promote a difference
of 0111111011 as to the propriety of the Address wiry'
or distils b the unanimity which so Nippily pervades
the House : nor shall liallow in detail the speeches
of the Ilene. 31uvro. and Sectooder of that Address,
further than to protest against the itiferrioce they
have attempted to draw, that the presesit implooveot.
condition of comilieice, owl the naturist'. sietir sot
the country, are to he attributed to the measures
pursued ill the last Sessiou by his
ten* I tite,however, anxious to draw nos attention
of the Mouse to a subject 'lot for ttttt ig any root of
the topics esubractil by the pleceiling soealo.rs, t
neceasurily conitected with them, Upon which L
must- premise it is not my itsteution tee ground any
specific motion. Its fact, this is the <oily nicest:on.
whet, we are pc itilegtd lv shit l.: tY vittit

part of individuals, or make a
e'evinees on the
..oruplaint on behalf of our constituents generally,
siltout intending to inure a resolution or nintijui
so form upon the subject of such grievance or
..oleiplaint. Such has been heretofore the prate-
upon the reading of his Majesty's Speech at
the commencemeist of the Session, and I shall
avail myself of it to make a few observations upon
the late prosecutions instituted against u person
io.imeof [lone, for libels. Let none suppose that in
o the atteidiun of the House to the subject, I
do not feel the extreme, impropriety and danger of
such linhl.cationt..—( I lear.)—(4 the party prose-
cuted I know swilling, but us the editor of those
• reprehensible parodies on the forms of Lie Esta-
blished Church, and as the very able and success-
ful defender of what iii themselves I cannot help
thinkiug highly culpable productions.— f Heur.)—
By that defence
him,
certainly prevailed upon the
Jury to acquit him, and with their conviction of
his culpability or innocence I have nothing to do;
but much may be urged as to the police or pro.
priety of the motives which actuated the Rt. Hon.
the Attorney-General in bringing the publisher be-
fore the public by three several prosecutionsexo))icio.
Peiliaps had the matter been subjected to a Grand
Jur), hills would have been fi iiiii al which would
equally well have answered his purpow% But as
custom has sanctioned this mode of prosecution, I
shall not attribute any blame to him for filing his
informations in the accustomed nay. But what ap-
pears highly nbjectionable upon the part of the
Bight Honourable Gentleman iii, that after the ac-
quittal of Mr. Hone upon the first trial he proceed-
ed to try him upon a similar libel, as though he was
desirous of amwaling from the verdict of one Jury
too *Hot lier.—/ Hear, bear./—Thus endeavouring to
bring that which is the only competent authority to
decide upon the subject, a verdict of a Jury, into
discredit rod odium.—(Hear, hear, front built sides
.!" the House.)—The Jury, nut witlistandisig that
dubious cheer, I must always consider the judges of
the law as well as the fact of publication in all
cases of libel—l Heur, hear. )—I will not impeach
the capacity of the Right. Honourable the At-
iorney-Gesorral, yet 1 cannot help seeking some
explanation fur the tines which induced
him to pre*, the question in this case—and
heed the accused, idler an acquittal, over
to another Jury. The result proved its inipo-
hey. He was again acquitted. A third attempt
to galls as verdict was then tried with equal ill sue.
Tess, and the sanction of three verdicts was thus
given to a practice coolie 1111 l able by all well-disposed
person.. all through the injudicious zeal of the
Right Hon. Gvistleinait—l Heur.)—Had the case
been otherwise, and the Defetiolant been convicted
noun the thirst trial, there can be little doubt his
punishment would have steady equalled those re-
miltiisr from a conviction upon the three several iii-
horonations. Chi, mode of proceeding cannot be
considered candid or liberal. Als unfair advantage
appears to have been taken of the accused, by sub-
jectin4 him to reiterated trials, and reiterated and
painlul exertions.—(//tar. )—Tiri, although dim.
posed to concede the magnitude of the evil likely
to result front permitting the dissemination of such
reprehensible publications, I commit but think the
Bight Hon. Gentleman's indiscretion has exported
the country to the cliatice of an evil of a much
more alarini•og nature, had, during those trials, any
circumstance occurred through his pertiisacity
which might have tended to lower and depreciate
in the public wind and est-Mistime, the opinion
hitherto entertained of the Trial by Jury. --(Hear,
Lear.)—Although I have felt it tuy duty thus
early to express my sentiments ui this tree-
section, in conformity with the practice of the
House, and the indulgence attending the ope ll i ll
of the Session of Parliament, by reading; the Speech
delivered loy the Royal Coinutission, I have been
toduced to do so oiserele old) a view to perform a
paransionist duty, without feeling the least disposed
to find fault with the sobstoioce of that Speech or
the Address now moved fur. in both these I hearti-
ly c cur, and hope there will be hut one una-
nimous sentiment respecting their propriety."—
( I fear.)
Tise ATTORKEY-CENERAI.—" From what 1
hive lweis able to collect )ruin the speech of the
Ruble Lord, I am at is loss rather to interpret the.
pireise poilits he Ille:1116 to Insist Ulan 101 valid
grounds of objection to the conduct I have pursu-
ed, dials for u justification (I hope satisfactor3) of I
the measures themselves, which have heels resorted
to. Ann l to uuderstand that he objects to the pro.
action% of any one oh these due.: libels, or to the
isroseentien of awns all ? Those who think those
pothiseatiotia not dangerous or libellous in the %%lost
lot simr• will, 110 doubt, slisapprose of all or any of the
prosecutions; but if the publications are admitted,
as the Noble Lord admits they are, to he
twliotta and totschie%on., w:,s I snit 'snood in
duty to prosecute the Defeliotailt far sill those
publications, each of which smugly, in my judg-
meld, appeared to lw a fit subject of prosscution ?
If auy of them had been published singly, I should
have. felt it iny duty to prosecute its publials.r.
Is it theselsore meant to lie contended, thist be-
cause three were three separate libels contained in
three parodic., published by the saute person, their
existed loot a stoneger iiiolucemeht to prutecute that
party, as well with a view in puilish as to prevent a
rill-idiot, of a similar offetwe in future ?—(Hear.)
—lf pnauiii. 01i0llier course, one Duly for instance,
tl:e first, ste.ossol, or third, haul been selected liar
Froseentison, emslol out the 1011/reStlloll have 11.1.0 that
tie rest v.. rto nut illegal or injurious to publie morals?
The distinction would have bee.' productive of the
Cold effect/I.—Mom I—lf the distiloction hail been
v.slial as against the sec I 'prosecution, the objec-
tion would be equally forcible mgailiat the filing ars
iooformatims against any subsequent liiwl of a slim-
lir nature. The prowl* might have been inure clear,
the 4.11413 more aisneomis ; and yet as lie wus ac-
.llllllles. oil the first for want of prout, or want of
lualigoatit waive, ills perwil in iny situation woods'
lye allowed to follow the outsider up to a coniviction
hewn a second or third offence. This is, of all
p••sitsous, the insist absurd and destitute of fininde-
non ui.un priuesple, as applicable in good govern-
ment, I should he sorry to allude, without respect,
to a verdict given its any Court ; but I must say
Pas not consvoisced that I lone wits toot guilty on any
of die toolormation, because in. was hot einovicteol
"Poo the tirsi. Tile subjects of all the l'arothes
*ire differ, ail ; the btlence,, though similar, disliact.
The. Jury hail a 11;:lit to tit bcrr their verdict ac-
cording to the Statutes then existing, but I also

had
a right to exercise, my discretion when, in my
judgment, the itsteirsts of the country and society
were at I:take—Meat j—iinue particularly so, if
untbiug el4illt Out n,l the previous trial which might
explain away the objectionable features of the pub-
lication, or lead me to suppose l was in error, or
mistaken iii my apprehoision of its tendency."
Sir S. ROMILLY-..." Mr. Speaker, I feel parti-
cularly gratified in giving my ass:mt to the pro-
posed Address, and should consider it a circitiu-
sta.tce deeply to be regretted, that any complaint
which might bt made as to events which have hap-
pened between the late and the present meeting of
Parliament, should be construed as interrupting the
uhuniinity which so properly prevails as to the
expediemy of that Address.—(//ear.)— If ever
there was a time that unanimity became a duty--
if ever there was a public event that deserved to
be considered a private and individual calamity, it
is that upon which the Commons (louse were now
colletl oil, in company with the whole station, to
condole with his Royal Iligliness.—( Hear.)—
'Elie unanimity or sincerity of our sorrow cannot
be impeached by the allusion which the Noble
Lord has just made to the subject of the late trials—
far front it. It is the privilege, as well as duty, of
Members solicitous for the well-being of society at
large, upon the opening of Parliament by the
Speech from the Throne, to proceed to the exa-
mination of such acts as appear to have emanated
from his Majesty's Ministers in the interval
between the Sessions, and produced private
grivance or public inconvenience—(Hear, hear)—
snore particularly so when these appear not at
isolated acts, but as part of a system openly
adopted by his 111ajesty's Ministers for curtailing
the rights, privileges, and liberties of the people
of England, insomuch so, that the once-boasted
Constitution of this country no longer can be said
to exist, and this /louse is called again together to
transact the public business, during a period of the
deepest national calamity, the suspension of that
Constitution, to obtain which our ancestors made
such vigorous struggles and glorious sacrifices.
While proceeding in that act of unparalleled teme-
rity, it will be recollected the House, in conse-
quence of the suggestion of the Ministers, that a
disclosure of facts, tnnes, places, and dates, would
prevent the delinquents being brought to justice,
consented to take the greater part of the Report of
the Secret Committee. as proved without the means
of accurate investigation. So far the House pro-
ceeded to pass the Act for suspending the Consti-
tution in die dark.—(Hear.f—Siiice our last
meeting, the transactions which have taken place
upou the trial of the offenders at Nlancliester, Glas-
gow, and Derby, have thrown a new light upon the
real foundation of that daring act of legislation.
1 am perfectly prepared, by the subsequent disclo-
sures, to call your attention to the manner in which
the insurrectional meetings at Manchester were de-

scribed in that Report. and the actual nature of those
meetings, as appeared by the subsequent proceed.
logs at the f• ssiies. In the Reports of this House
and the Lords, it was stated that treasonable con-
spiracies of the most atrocious nature had been
detected to exist to Manchester and the country
round about; that the associated had conspired
to destroy the barracks, and to burn the 1111111 U..
factories, with the diabolical intention of in.
creasing the mass of the disaffected by the de-
struction of those very sources of employment ;
that they had sworn to render Manchester another
Moscow, a signal monument of their vengeance.
The reports added, that sonic of these conspirators
were then actually in custody. Many mouths have
since elapsed, various persona have been examined,
and some held to bail ; but no such treasonable plots
or horrid machinations have been discovered, nor
one loan been convicted of any such attempts, or
even desicris.—( Hcar.)— If there are sissy, why have
they nut been brought to trial ? why have nut the
Reports been endeavoured to be authenticated ? No !
The Attorney-General, to prevent a disclosure of
circumstances prejudicial to the interests of the
Slate, removed the cases by certiorari into the
King's Bench. The next Sessions he allows them
all to escape, because he possesses no evidence
whirehy he could procure their conviction, and
then Gover iiiii eta make a merit of what they call
their clemelicy. but which merit they in fact could
never have had any pretensions to were it not for the
a rung they themselves committed in the first in-
stance by the apprehension of these poor people.—
near tau! !oust clieering.)-11 they had possessed
evidence- to convict them, would they have escaped
so ? or if they were justly charged with offences of
this enormous magnitude, were they lit objects for
the clemelicy of the Croats ?—(Hear, hcar.)—ln
September we find these people, so strongly charged
with rebellious conspiracies and overt acts of
rebellion, let loose, because, it is said, the trams
quillity of the country Is so far restored, that
mercy may be extended to them. But the House
will find, that Ministers did nut think tranquillity
so far restored as to permit those to go at large
concerning whom wily slight suspicions bad been
entertained. Do they call this the strength or the
weakness of their case ? Whether is such conduct
a specific ground for Merit or reprobation on the
part of the Howe and the country at large ?
filear.)—Upois the cases of those persons eon-
lined or held to bail upon similar charges in Scot-
!mid, I shall nut touch, us I find it is resolved
upon that these are to be the subject of a separate
tion—although it will lie fresh iii the recollec-
tion of the House, what a lively impression was
made out that memorable ut4hr, when the learned
Lord Advocate of Scotland, now sitting opposite,
came Tutu the !teals from the dreadful accuse
of sedition which lie so alarmingly described, and
read the dreadful oath said to have been admi-
nistered and saliiiiiiistering throughout that district.
let afier all the parade of criminality, these vouch-
er- of rebellion and treason, that Learned Lnrd uud
I his Colleogiitak bad only selected wie person for pro-
secution, who, after three attempts to draw up an
indictment again.' him, was acquitted, to their utter
contusion and refulation.—( Hear, hear.)—Do not
these thsclusiirta arid discostifitures of the legal ad-
visers of the Crown throw light %xi the minds of
our Constituents, and develope the true situation of
the country for months back ? Are they nut aware
of the de;itision which has been in: heed upon
Chess, and that thi• country lots beets, %%alma cause.
rubbed ul It,. ColiblltoilUll so 10111:4
—Much is due to the ingeinous and meritorious
stand made at the late trials at Derby by the
Counsel hr Ilse pissunera, ag-isust the tioicl and

dingerous attempt at construing the law of treason
by the Crown Lawyers, although the parties who
suffered there, I have no doubt, *offered justly the
piiiiislitneiit of crimes halite to tiie priiiiity of death,
whether guilty of the ireaboti or out. Through
these different sources of itiformation upon the
n 'tore of our situation for WOW mouths buck,
who is there now who perceives tint that the very
measures of Gayer:it:lent have been the cause of
that insurrection which they affected here to be
anxious to prevent, by measures of precool ?
%Vim has not been easily able thereby to detect the
anxiety of Government to conceal the cause of those
revolutionary acts in that part of the country ?
Upon the trial of Brandretli and others. the Attor-
tory-General continually repeated, during the exa-
mination of evidence, that he wished to routine hint-
self to the period of the atli of June, when these de-
luded people appeared in arms, and consummated
the offeme for which they suffered, although in his
opening speech lie hail assured the Court lie should
he able to give the most corisiiiciiig ',masa anterior
inetnigs to that date, and a regulaely preconcerted
mud organized coil.piracy. Notwithstanding the wel
known activity of the missionary of revolution sent
down there to foment the public dissatisfaction, and
occasion that much-to-be-lamented explosion which
ended finally in the sacrifice of the lives of several
individuals, still the Law Officers of the Crown
dared not to draw aside the veil which covered the
doubtful proceedings anterior to the Bth of June,
and to which the Attorney-Getiend had in a for-
mer stage alluded with so much confidence.
These anterior proceediargs, notwithstanding the
examin aim' of evidence upon the first, second, and
third trial, remain, and are likely for ever to remain
in profound obscurity. It Is remarkable, that
when it was objected here, on the passing of the Act
for the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus, some
objected in this House to keeping the names secret
as answering no good pnrpose. The Ministers ob-
served, it would be eligible for the preventiou of
insurrection, because they could keep their eyes
fixed in secret upon such as they knew to be
leaders, and seize them at the moment their
treasonable projects were about to be executed.
Now Brandreth, 'tis said, had long been known to
be the most determined of their leaders, yet lie was
suffered to go at large until he completed the trea-
sonable outrages it was their duty to have antici-
pated. To advert to the subject of the parodies
alluded to, I recollect the late Attorney-General,
in mentioning them, refused to read publications
of so flagitious a nature in a British House of Com-
mons, and flung them in a sealed cover upon the
table. The present A ttorney-Genend now adopted a
different plan, and by his triple prosecution and tri-
ple defeat, gave these, very improperly, a publicity
to thousands, who never otherwise would have heard
of them. Whilst some curious persons would
have given a guinea for one parody, the At-
torney-General determined to print au immense
and new edition of all the parodies at less than
their original price ; and yet he bad this evening
stated, that his motive fur prosecution was the pre-
veotion of the circulation of such works.—(Near
and laughing.)—Thus, in the case of the atrocious
delinquents at Manchester, he sought credit for
advistog an act of clemency, where it was his duty
to have prosecuted the offenders to conviction ; but
in Hone* case, where clemency might, with so
much credit to his politic foresight, have been ex-
tended, lie pertinaciously sought a conviction, and
brought down nothing but disgrace and defeat on his
head. After having revived by the trials what bad
been suppressed some mouths before through Hone's
apprehensions, it was not surprising, that, after two
defeats, he should have prosecuted Hone upon the
parody upon the Aikanasiura Creed, which, in the
Court of King's Bench, had been already decided,
in the case of another party tried for publishing
these parodies, to be of a less objectionable nature.
Would it have been weakness or neglect of duty
in this case to have let this apocryphal parody
passed unnoticed ?--or is it every Attorney-
General's business to prosecute every libel or
parody that is published ? No, certainly.—
But the object of these prosecutions is too plain ;
Governineot felt sore at having their conduct amid
character exposed to public diew, as impolitic
Statesmen and improvident treasurers of the public
money, in a language fathiTiar te all ears and cape.
cities. Yet this was not the only object in
the view of either his Majesty's Ministers, or
their defender, the Right Honourable Gentleman.
There was another motive for this pertinacious zeal,
which prompted these three distinct and separate
trials. It was intended to throw discredit WI Juries,
had the latter prosecutions been successful; but hap-
pily for us and the country at large, the turn has
been in favour of Juries. Is it possible then that
this has been part of a design meditated, and al-
most matured by Miiiisterw, to take froiu us, piece
by piece, our valuable Constitution? May not
these acts be coupled with similar ones of the same
Adininibtration, who have condescended to tamper
anti the Magistracy throughout the country, and
prescribed their line of conduct by circular* of
an unconstitutional and unwarrantable nature—
who have suspended the. Constitution of tills country
upon frivolous and unfounded representations—who
have told the Commons of England that they sue
nut tit to be intrusted with the authentication of
the existence of an alleged conspiracy against the
Government of this country—who have dared to
commit men to prison without crime, and after dis-
charging them for want of evidence, taken srcu-
titles from them to render theiuselrets at any
time they may be called upon ? And shall an
Administration like this expect to receive at our
hands an inde 1111 l ity for conduct like this—for
such repeated and causeless Invasion of our best
lit.erties ? %o—perish the thought ! and with it
perish the hope that they ever will be enabled to
erect that projected new constitution amongst us,
AO opposite to all which is valuable iri that bequeath-
ed to u$ by our ancestors !—a species of coirbiltu-
tion which would persuade us that an Act of Pars
fitment expressly passed tor the regulation of pri-
Sons, could not affect the King's prerogative, or
mitigate the sufferings (Attie persons so confined !
Brit, fortunately fir thus country, the public has
recovered Irons its falre alarms; all attempts to sus.
tuin the delusion have failed ; the leelings of the
public arc hostile to the attempt* of Admini-
stration to remodel their happy hum of Govetti-
meta ; and Parliament, I trust, will alioitly
show its init. listligitiltloll In the deception which has
then pra‘tiaed upon it, wlieu (lit y shall appear at

the bar of this House mill apply for an Act of lit-
ileinnity to cover the olliaices of whieli they have
been 2udty during do last few loortentous months."
—1 Ilear, hew., Lear.)
The So flat rait-( ; ERA T.—" 1 have to lament
the House has been so far taken by surprise, by
the observsttoos which hove fallen from the Noble
Lord and the Hail. Baronet this evening. lu the
course of the observations which have fallen from
the latter, lie appears complete ly to have confounded
the c.►ses of persons charged with treason with
the cases of those persons called Blaisketteers. As
to the trials at Delhi., I never expected to have
heard any obj"cttu,► made on the port of my Ho-
nourable Friend to proceedings which 1 had flat-
tered myself had been conducted so fairly, end ter-
initiated so satisfactorily to all parties present.—/A
laugh. —lf the parties accused could hive shown
that in the meetings previous to the Pith or mune they
had been cently made the victims of art-
ful and insidious persons, why d►d not their
Counsel prove it upon the trial, and avail them-
' selves of the advantages resulting from such evi-
dence ? ll'ere we b dto adduce all that had
happened anterior to the filth of June, merely to
please the worthy Bironet ? That which has
given rise to this debate, his surprised me wore
than all the rest —I wean the prosecution of Hone
for libel. Do the Noble Lord and the Hon.
Baronet conteud, that because there were three
libels, one exceeding the others in atrocity and per-
nicious tendency, that fie should be prosecuted,
because the prosecution had the Mille tendency as
a publiestion de mono? Ifs'', then the laws respecting
libels are all a farce, and it 3333 it come to this, that no
libel, however atrocious or blasphemous, should ever
he proceeded against, lest it have the effect of dia-
re►ninatiug its baneful influence once inure thro►gh-
out society. If, on the first case failing, his Bight
Hon. Friend (the Attorney-General) tried the
second, he is now furnished with a fresh argument
for doing so from the mouth of the lion. Baronet
(Sir Samuel ltoosilly!, who thinks the second the
worst and most culpable in a moral sense.—
(ilear.)—Although the third parody was the weak-
est case coulesseilly, still the Court of King's
Bench I►ad condemned the printer of it to !Our
mouths imprisonment ; whilst, for another, it had
sentenced hint to eight mouths confinement.—
It is absurd to say that Hone's having suppressed
this publication, after a good rile of many days,
the evil ceased ; for after this, and before it, Car-
lisle and others had inundated the kingdom with
editions on editions of the same at the lowest prier;
and who so justly deserved punishment as the foun-
tain from whence all the mischief had sprung,
the wholesale dealer iu seditious blasphemy ?
Tl►e House must therefore see that the juster in-
ference in cases of this nature is, that those in-
trusted with the guardianship of society, cannot,
without a culpable neglect of duty,su fir the offence
of libel to go unpunished, although the remedy it-
self may inevitably be productive of the very evil
which it was intended to correct.

The LORD ADVOCATE of SCOTLAND—" I beg
leave, on the present occasion, to snake a few obser-
vations, having been particularly alluded to by oily
Hon. and Learned Frieud opposite. Ido not now
media to go lion a review of the circumstances con-
erected with the subject which he has introduced to
the House—bnt, when the motion of the Noble
Lord (A. Hamilton) is brought forward, I shall be
prepared to shew, front the proceedings in the
Court, and the issue of the trial, that the charges
insinuated by my Hon. and Learned Friend are
wholly unfounded. I will 'hew, that the imputa-
tion of ignorance, in drawing up the indictment,
is completely fallacious ;—and, from the issue of
the trial—from the address of the Judge to the
prisoner, on his being dismissed from the bar--
when the Jury had returned a verdict, well known
in the law of Scotland, as distinguished from a ver-
dict of Not mean a verdict of nut proven
—I will substantiate the fact, that the oath to which
I referred was taken by certain persons engaged in a
traitorous conspiracy at Glasgow. With respect to
another allegation, of far more importance, namely,
that I acted corruptly, or that I suffered corrupt
practices to be resorted to, for the purpose of influ-
encing evidence, instead of the statement of my
Hon. and Learned Friend being correct, I shall be
able to prove, to the satisfaction of the House, that, so
far from any thing corrupt having been done by me,
or any other servant of the Crown, on the occasion
adverted to, we had, in fact, done 'nothing, but
what we could not have omitted doling, without
being guilty of a great dereliction of our public
duty."
Lord A. lIAMILTON-4, I am desirous of making
one or two observations, to consequence of what has
fallen from the limo. and ',meted Lord. I have
no ititeutioni tit present of entering into the subject
which loud called forth his statement—but I beg
leave to try, that I not only dissent f what lie
has advanced, hut, when the proper time arrives, I
will positiately contradict what he has now asserted.
The Hou. and Learned Lord says, lie is prepared
to sinew, that all the charges and statements promo I-
gated in the last Session, with regard too conspiracy
or insurrection in Scutlaiul, were welt founded.
Now, I really wish every individual to recollect
what was the statement of the Hon. and Learned
Lord on that occasion. Ile stated to this House
that there were hundreds of thousand* of ',emus
involved no those crillsiiii,l 'proceedings. If that be
the case, how is it that the Hon. amid Learned Lord,
and all his colleagues, had introduced but one trial ?
Why did they nut *Ora many individuals ? The
trial in question did indeed involve two persons, but
it was substantially Instituted against one, I shall
not now go into a history of that transaction, al though
I have my decided opinion as to the Imo of
the Law Officers of the Crown in Scotland, whirl,
I will state and maintain at the proper period. But
I will tell the Hon. and Learned Lord this, that he
is very materially counto.tetl %kith that individual
against whom 3 11106011 of croionation ought to be
proposed. I don't think I sin called on to ray more
on this occasion. I may he allowed, however, to
observe, that if Ministers, in their proceedings, have
not been actuated by their desire of pursuing to Py4ent
of unjust accusations, and sevrrr oppression, their con-.
duct has clearly evinced the existence of feeling» of
sharpness and overfly. Illeoll%ltitelil with the declare-
turns which they last Ses.iton Made to this House.
I will nut trespass lowlier On the attention of the
house—but I protest against appearing to ac-
opimice in one single 'mita .ts&crted by the Hollow-

~~

al)le twd Lt:arnecl Lord with rLicict.ce to the trial tit
questioo"

• Lard Foia(s.ro E—" I7nviiiiit,g as I all), at alb
tine,, to oiler myself' to the alotice of the I louse.
and koolitit•; that univillmentss, its R peculiar degree,
at prebuilt, yarn symptoms a v.,emmt.ss beglit to
be uleitifested at the prirractimi of the iletaate—yet
I think it is in‘: duty, reprobatiog, as 1 do, the
conduct'of h:, Majesty's .Ministers durilia, the re-
sew, not to be perfectly silent on this occitsiaiti.
With respect to the tri..ls, mowed by those who
preceded me, I shall say yen- little. Of those
which took place iii Scotland I shall say notiiiir‘
whatever. But, with reference to other trials. I.
shall merely say, that if any mason w!io beard this
statement el my flutiourahle :141(1 Learned Fiiend,
awl the answer attempted to be giveit to it, did not
fee.l cotavite:rd that the facts adduced by Ilion stood
uncontradicted, I think he must either not have at-
iciule'U lit statemeta, or his mind must lie wit-
fully opposed to conviction. The Honouroble and
La:Jilted Gentleman opposite met Ole st.itemelit of
my I.earned Friend, with respect to the trials at
Manchester, by saying, that the persons net at
liberty were not those who had lice:: taken
up on the charge of conspirilig to limo that toa4l.
My Hon. and Learned Friend believes, and I also
believe, that they were the ideutical persons. Ott
what authority have we come to that conclusion ?
On the authority of the Report of the Select Coin.
tattler, which was laid on the table of House
which Report stated, that some of the priSolls Inl.
plicated in the plot there adverted to, had been ap-
preliendiol—and these. I believe, were the persons
Ills:illy liberated. With respect to toe trials at
Derby. I deny the justice of the doctrine laid dowit
by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman. Ile says
• We conceive we did enough, when we brought
evidence forward to convict those conspirators—ive
lead no night to do more—we were not called on to
adduce any thing that might lay open the real
system, which, on that occasion, had been acted
on—with reference to that, the public ought
to be left in the dank.' Now, Sir, I verily
believe, that the clime fur which those un-
fortunate melt sit &led was as much the produc-
tion of 11r. Oliver—n us as touch the effect of the
Measures taken by his Majesty's Ministerae—as any
other transaction in Which Mr. Oliver bed taken a
part.--(Hear, hear.)---1 believe it was the wan k of
Mr. Oliver—the agent of Lord Sidinotith—the
in-
strument of Iklinisters—( Hear, hear);--and, if it
were so, I do not envy them the triumph
seems to till them with so much pride, of having
convicted and executed those three miserable nob-
animals. —(Heier, hear.)—With respect to the trials
of Mr. Hone, iiia luau could read them with t
clearly seeing, that either the Government were ill-
uenced by that spirit of persecution, the existence
of which his Majesty's Attorney-General denied, or
eke that they were unite incapable of propel Iv cat-
rying of proceedings of that nature. But what I
most object to in these trials is, the degradation to
which they tended to bring our Courts of Jostler,
and those to whom the administration of our laws
is confided.—.(Hear, hear.) --Could sits- matt.
who wished to uphold the dignity of our Courts
of Justice—who was desirous of supporting the Ito-
nom and respectability of the expou tillers of the
law—read those trials, and not feel, that the whole
proceeding was calculated infinitely more to lower
and degrade the dignity of mir Courts, and to hold
up to contempt those who presided, and those who
practised in them, than the obnoxious publications
were suited to throw ridicule on religion, or to
produce impiety ?—(Hear, Gear.)—l believe Mini-
sters, in following the business up, had two distinct
objects in view—first, the persecution of Mr. Hone,
whose conviction tvould, its sonic degree, bear out
the assertion made in the lest Session, that the
country teemed with blasphemous publications—
and next, to ground some measure on tile proceed-
ings, for the purpose of impairing tile Trial Ly
Jury. This is my conscientious opinion—rod I
ani sure lam not !ha/gill/1r its maintaining it. But
this was not the only step taken by Ministers, dur-
ing the recess, that went to lower, il. the eyes of
the people, that which should always be viewed
with respect, and vesteration, and confidence—the
administration of the law. The scene which la-
curred in the. Court of Ring's Bench, two or dna,:
days ago, sufficiently skews this. But of that I shall
say nothing—beeause it will, perhaps, coolie re-
gularly under the consideration of the 114.18. e. I
shall now allude to another transactions its aloe!' I
11111 inure immediately concerned. 1 mean the casts
of the persons confined under the law fur the
suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act—persons
placed in solitary conlinetnent, by the orders of hot
Alajesty's Government, in direct n1,1,0,41.'11 to the
°pillion of a 'Court Of Joistr....e. Alinisters may say,
that that Court of Justice is mistaken. But still it is
a Court of Law, and ought to be held up to the re-
spect, not to the contempt, of the people. I speak
of the Court of Quarter Sessions.—(!tear, hear.)
—Now, Sir, to come to the A 0 ..4.i.ress. I cantiot et:-
tirely agree to the sentiment•rooraitied in it. There
is one part of it, which COW:1111,i eii expressions or
the approbation of the House towards his Majesty's
Government—and attributes the present improved
state of public feelitee to tiarir cooduct.—(C'ries-
ti • Nu ! no ")—lt so struck toe, abets it was read
—and, most indubitably, I du Hot agree in such it
sentiment.—(Cries if • No ! nu .")—I understand
there is no such thing in the Address—and, therefor,
I shall pursue that subject *to farther. There is.
however, a promise in the Address, to agree In all
that has been done with respect to Spain and I'ma
sago—which I am by no moans prepared to do.
But, at a future day, I probably a ill hate au op-
portunity of stating my opinion on that subject.
and I shall How say nothing respecting tr. 11,ii.
Sir, abut I decidedly find fault with iii this .adatiesa
is, the absence of is suitable expression of feeling—
of smell feeling as best becalms an Eliglish House
of Commons—at a tune when all our liberties err.
liing prostrate at the fret or Ministers—when our
freedom may be assailed, by a Secretary of State.
Its a manner unprecedented at ally former period
of our history !--( Hear, hear, heir./--Ass.
other thing which I object taa:iii the Address is
its flatness—its staid of point—us not bearing on
specific objects, but dealing entirely on iienerali-
ties ! The Hots. Getatleasen who seconded it sat s,
• there is nothing ni the Address that can lie ob.
jeCirti to, and therefore I
lecommenal it its the
Moose.' This is not the way tit which Ad:lresses
were formerly voted. The Speech 11011. the Thrums.
ought to be a watt of exposition of the state. of the

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