The National Register.
London, England, 1809-05-07 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

ceeding, autt that he will refuse to appear before their Bar,
for it compelled to appear, that he will refuse to answer
their interrogatories. Under such circumstances there
will be but one possible alternative, Hirt is to say, his im-
mediate deposititm by' a decree of the State.
It is not very easy, from the cautious anti imperfect ac-
connts which reach this country, to form any conclusion as
to the state of the popular mind in Sweden. All that is
known is, that the people have ver3 passively submitted
to the authority of the Regent, ael that there seems to
be a general persuasion, that the character of the KING.
was too ardent, and that he consulted rather the man re of
the cause in which he was engaged, than the extent of his
own reso*rces.

The mention of the House of Commons and of the public
in general, is almost exclusively occupied on the :)usiness,
which has been introduced there by a Motion of Mr.
MADocxs. apply be remembered that sonlls csiLt since that
Gentleman gave the ordinary rariiani. .tiary notice, that
be would bring forward a motion connected with Parlin,
mentary Reform. From the general manner in ws.ich
this notice was worded, there was not the slighte. pos-
sible conjecture as to its actual detail. Every t!..ng con-
nected with the great question of Parliamenta-i Reform,
is at present matter of immediate interest, an.: such being
the avowed purport of Mr. MADOCKS'S motion, the public
certainly looked to it with much expectation. But not a
suspicion had entered it to the mind of any one, that the
actual and immediate point of the intended !notion was

what by its result on Friday night it appeared to be.
Mr. MADOCKS, rising in his place, preferred a formal
Charge against two of the leading Ministers, Mr. PER C EVA L
and LorirCASTLEREAGH. After a few observations, which
are very important, as being the only present light to his
general purpose, he moved, that the House would resolve
itself into a Committee on Thursday next, in which it should
receive certain charges of corruptiou and of criminal prac-
tices, in procuring the return of Members of Parliament,
against Lord CAS'iL ER LAC LI and the CHANCELLOR of the Ex-
cHEQUER.
It will be seen by the debate, which is fully reported in
cur columns, that this communication threw not only the
parties accused, but the House itself, into the greatest pos-
sible surprise and confusion—Lord CASTLER EAGH was not
in the House, Mr. PEHCEvAL rose, in much confusion, and
after an interval of agitation and embarassment, com-
plained that Mr. MADOCKS had taken him by surprise, that
in so doing he had violated the ordinary parliamentary
forms, and even in a degree trespassed against natural
equity and personal decorum.
It may briefly be observed, upon this part of the sub-
ject, that the objection goes only to the iiriii in which the
business has been brought forward, and therefore that whe-
ther solid er superficial, it does not affect the substmice.
It is certainly a rule in the proceedings of the House, that
no charges should be exhibited against a Member without
a r.revious explanatory notice. it does not, however, ap-
pear in the present case, that any left-handed advantage
could either be intended, or could by any posssibility have
resulted.—Mr. MADOCKS, it will be seen, did not make
any charge. He only moved fur a future Committee, in
which, on a future day, such a charge should be produced,
had he exhibited any accusation in the absence of the
Members accused, and with due notice to them, so that
they :nicht he prepared to meet the accusation with the
eft:fence. The objection against the abrupt introduction
of his motion, would have been solid, it would have been
equally against all parliamentary forms and all natural
equity, to have produced an accusation by surprise. But
where his motion is not an accusation, but merely a notice
of accusation, where it is not a trial, but a notice of trial,
there certainly seems no reason to complain of surprise.
lTpon this ground, however, that is to say, upon a point
of form, the motion was negatived—the SexAILZS giving it

MAY 7.

as his opinion, that it would he inure Parisamentary fur the
Honourable Moser• to explain more fully the grounds of
his motion. The matter, therefore, has gone oft* for the
present, but it is generally uuders;uod, that on Thursday '
next Mr. MADOCKS will adopt the suggestion of the
SPEAKER, and will renew the u!ution upon a production of
the documents on which it is founded.

In the meantime the Pu!iiic are left to conjecture what
is the precise fact—what the particular instance of cor-
ruption n filch tips Ger ~teman lias to proclaim against Lurd
CASTLI;fILAGII and .A!r. PEucEvAL.

Upon these poii.ts we have twb brief observations.—ln
the first place, '..cotu the manner it which Mr. Mario:.Es
prefaced his motion, it is evident that it is very important,
and that hi•aself, and the party with which he acts, expect
from it very consequential results. •
This iolerence wav be collected from the Extracts which
he !roved to be read from the Journals. The substance of
t1..-se Extracts, upon which he grounded two proceedings
:it form, was, I!ial in the year 1700, Samud sh(Phecd, Esq.
a Member of thc House of Commous,was a:•enscd of cor-
rupt practices in 1,1-ocuring the return of :Members into that
House,—that witnesses were examined at the Bar upon
that charge, and that by the event .`t,liepherd was found
guilty anti committed to the Tower.
Our second observation refers to the probable source
from -which Mr. MAnorKs has derivA his intelligence„
and to the probable nature of the documents which he will
produce in evidence, in proof and substantiation of the
charge.
That these documents are sufficient is likewise evident
from the manner in which Mr.MADOcKS and his friends in
(louse spoke of them, when repelling the observation
of the ministerial side of the House, that the lion. Gentle-
wan (Mr. NIADocKs) might possibly have no other ground
than mere cursory report,—mere idle slander. One of the
Members of the House, Mr. B.%'ruu BST, a gentleman who
does not always understand himself, at least if we may
judge from what is imputed to him, very unluckily made
use of the word,—TANGiBLE SHAPE..•-•• 6 He hoped the
Honourable Gentleman had something to produce of a
tangible shape and substance." This expression gave oc•
c.ision to a very animated speech by Mr. WHITBREAD, ill
which, with his usual strength and felicity of retort and
rallery, Mr. W. rung some very happy changes upon the
words—Tangible Shape. The inference from what he said,
as far as it bears upon the present points, seems to be, that
Mr. Msoocks had exhibited his documents to Mr. WHIT-
BREAD, and that Mr. BATHURST would have his wish in
something- TANGIBLE.
Our readers is ill doubtless remember, that the Bankruptcy
of WALSH and NESBIT has been frequently referred to in
the House, as having led to a most important discovery,
but that discovery has never been otherwise mentioned,
than in very general terms. In the proceedings at the He.,
form Dinner, one or two Members of Parliament spoke,
and not being .under the same strict ruks of proceeding aft
within the walls of their own House, they there distinctlx
stated, that it had come out from the documents laid be.
fore the Commissioners of Bankrupts in the commission of
WALSH and NEstler, that four seats in Parliament had been
purchased, at the cost of five thousand each, by the firm of
that House.

Now, to come to the point, Mr. MA DOCKS, we believes
has had a peculiar share in the investigation of the con-
cerns of this firm. Is it not probable, therefore, that the
documents to which he refers in his motions may be the
BOOKS and PAPERS Of WALSH and NESBITT. Another im-
portant idea here suggest 4 itself—if these papers are pro-
duced—if the subject is br,o.ight hornet what will, be the
result?

The result may be comprehended in a very few words
the exemplary punishment of the parties accused—a new
Ministry, and a most important practical advance toward,*
A EFORM In PARLIAMENT.

~
se,. ....•. a' Sf.,a OCMPISSVI 11/%0 %.,41114113/4114"11 ilitiegios, co ......-1.46."..• LLLL
a rOreViOUS explanatory notice. it does not, however, ap- within the walls of their own House, they there distinctlx
pear in the present case, that any left-handed advantage stated, that it had come out from the documents laid be-
could either he intended, or could by any posssibility have fore the Commissioners of Bankrupts in the commission of
resulted.—Mr. MADOCKSI it will be seen, did not make WALSH and NEsnrr, that four seats in Parliament had been
any charge. He only moved for a future Committee, in purchased, at the cost of five thousand each; by the firm of
which, on a future day, such a charge should be produced, that House. I
ri
had he exhibited any accusation in the absence of the Now, to come to the point, Mr. MADOCKS, we believes
Members accused, and with due notice to them, so that has had a peculiar share in the investigation of the con-
they
:nicht he prepared to meet the accusation with the cerns of this firm. Is it not probable, therefore, that the
eft:fence. The objection against the abrupt introduction documents to which he refers in his motions may be the
of his motion, would have been solid, it would have been BOOKS and PAPERS of WALSH and NESBITT. Another im-
equally against all parliamentary forms and all natural ~ portant idea here suggest 4 itself—if these papers are pro-
equity, to have produced an accusation by surprise. But duced—if the subject is br,olght home,, what will t)e the,
'
where his motion Is not an accusation, but merely a notice result ?
of accusation, where it is not a trial, but a notice of trial, . The result may be comprehended in a very few words—
there certainly seems no reason to complain of surprise. , the exemplary punishment of the parties accused—a new
lTpon this ground, however, that is to say, upon a point Ministry, and a most important practical advance toward*.
of form, the motion was negatived—the SPEAILZS giving it ' A EFORM 111 PARLIAMENT.
. .