The National Register.
London, England, 1808-10-24 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

, -
tice. He then srggested several Resolutions relative to the
nece-sity of Parliamentary Re(ortn.
Mr. Sheridan came fornard amidst loud applause, and said,
that he would not at present make any observations on the con-
dos t of 91 inkters, as tar as they might be supposed to he impli-
en,ed in the Convention of Cintra, since he was confident that
then conduct nook, become the subject of investigation in Par-
liament, here he should have an opportunity of delivering his
sentiments on that subject, which he should therefore not tiilate
upon aow. He must object, however, to tie present resolution,
inasmuch as it had the appearance of throwing a stigma on the
Address of the City of London, by re-echoing that reply of the
King, which it nu, perfectly constitutional to consider as com-
ing from Ministers, and not from his Majesty. Approving.
therefore, as he did, of the Address from the City, lie could
not countenance any Resolution w hich might be contrued as a
Censure upon it. On the present most respectable Meeting of
the hhabilants of ISestminster, he certainly regretted as much
as any man the absence of their worthy Representative, Sir
Francis Burdett; but he was perfectly convinced that his ab-
sence was ow ing to a cause that was most honourable to his
feelings, however much regretted by himself, and those who
heard him. And he must say, for his own part, that, looking
at tne conduct of the worth% Baronet in the last Session of Par-
liament, he had never heard him utter one word, or lay down
one principle in whit h he did nut coincide, and in suppott of
which he should not be proud to stand by him. (Loud-Lipp/nose.)
Au Honourable Gentleman on his right had been pleased to pass
upon him Mr. Sheridan! a panegyric which he was conscious
was far beyond his deserts; but this he would say, and he trust
ed that his past conduct would bear him out in doing so, that
the inhabitants of Westminster at present listened to a man whose
price was not upon eat th, that could induce him to desert the
cause of the people. (Applause.)—Something had been said too
as to the necessity of a Parliamentary Reform, in order to make
an Address of this kind perfectly efficient. NVltenever any ino•
lion to that effect was brought forward, it should meet with his
warm support ; bat the Gentleman had Aone farther, and con-
tended, that until there was a Reform in Parliament,. there
could be no honest Minister in this country. But this he thought
vas going rather too far, for though he still looked forward to
see the day when a Parliamentary Reform could be effected, yet
he firmly believed it never could be accomplished but by an ho-
nest and upright Minister. To be convinced of this, it was only
necessary to look at the Abolition of the Slave Trade. That
measure had for many years all Mr. Pitt's eloquence in its sup-
port, and the voice of all the saints and hypocrites in the House
(d Lough), and yet it could not be carried. But when that
truly honest Minister, Mr. Fox, succeeded, then the measure
was carried by a great majority ; and be therefore believed,
that an honest Ministry were essential to a Reform in Parlia-
ment. That was not, however, properly the subject at present
under consideration; we were met to assert our undoubted right.
to Athlress his Majesty on the subject of a measure, which, to
sax the least of it, had disappointed the hopes and expectation,
of the m hole nation, and to demand an enquiry into the causes of
this disappointment. The City of Loudon, in his opinion, had
done nothing hut what they were entitled to do. They thought
the Convention disgraceful, and demanded an enquiry, and though
the answer of his Majesty, which he had a right to consider as
the answer of Ministers, said that they had no occasion to he
reminded of their duty, yet he trusted that the people of West-
minster, and of every other part of the kingdom, would use
their own discretion on that point, and, far from trusting im-
plicitly to Ministers, would express those feelings of disappoint-
n:ent and regret, which the Convention had universally excited.
lie did agree that there was perhaps no radical remedy but a
Reform in Parliament, but still the sentiments of Parliament,
constituted even as it was, must have great weight; and when-
ever the subject was brought forward there, in as far as Minis
ters were implicated, he trusted that he should not be found to
shrink from his duty.

Three ftecolutions were then put by Mr. Clarkson, which
stated the fact: of the battles in Portugal, and the Convention,
as they appeared in the London Gazette, and also expressed the
sense of the Meeting, that this extraordinary Convention had
destroyed the hopes of the country.
_ _ _

On the fourth -Resolution being read, which merely re-echoed
the declaration of his hlajesty, " that it was not consistent with
the principles of Britisa justice, that any wan should be con-
dennwd unheard."

It was then agreed that the 4th Resolution should he with-
Oran u, as not beiug likely to meet with unanimous approba-
ion

OCT. 24.

Mr. Poster then came forward, and dwelt, with considerable
energy and effect, on the importance of a parliamentary enquiry
being instituted, as speedily as possible, into an affair which mi.-
investigated and unpunished, must degrade the national ehar.tcter
In our own eyes, and in those of Europe at large.
Mr. Sheridan pledged himself that, whenever an enquiry was
moved in Parliament, it should meet with his IA arm support:
and, instead of the resolution w hieh was now withdrawn, he
should move another, expressive of the wisher of the people of
Westminster, that Parliament shotild he forthwith atserulded,
in order to give opportunity for an immediate enquiry.
A resolution to this effect was then read, and unanimously
agreed to.
The additional Resolutions proposed by Mr. Finnerty were
then read in a most audible manner by Mr. Puller, and k6uhmit-
ted to the approbation of the Meeting..
This brought Mr. \Visit:in again forward, who observed, that
though he concurred in most of the sentiments stated, ye' till.,
did not seem a proper occasion fur adopting them. W hem. ver
the subject of Parliamentary Reform is a+ regularly brought
forward in a Meeting of !hi:, kind, it should meet w ith all the
support w hieh he could give it i but taw declared object of the
present Meeting was to addreis his Majesty on the Convention,
in Pottugal, and he troth) not agree that another subject should
be brought in by a side-wind. Such un example would tumid,
a reason to the supporters of Ministry for opposing Meeting., of
this kind in other parts of the country ; they would say, that the
real object was very different from the apparent one. For his
part, he was determineo of to look one way a tid draw another.
The additional Resolutions nut seeming to meet with general
approbation, were witlitirtiwn,isud the following Address to hi;
Majesty was then read : • ,
TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

MAY IT PLEASE ,YOUR .1110ESTY,

We your, Mujesty-v lord -Autdects, the Inhabitants of the
City and Liberty of iVestmispster, beg leave to approach
Milje,ty and ro express our Artn persuasion, that the late ( !in-
vention, agreed to by ;Four ujesty's Commander, in Portual,
no less afflicted your Majesty than disappointed the hopes and
expectations of your Majesty:; faithful people.
That yourpctitioners were filled with admiration and joy at
the valor and success of your Majesty's foreei in Portugal, a,:
detailed in the Extraordinary Gazette published on the Jcvnid
day of September last.
That your Petitioners are concerned to observe, that nt
that time your Majesty's Commander, hail signed Prelimi-
naries for a convention, by which the British !Nation engaged
to carry to France, the whole of the French Army, with their
Baggage, Artillery, and Ammunition ; that they were not to
he considered Prisoners of War. hut were allowed to art, im-
mediately on their return to France, in any place where therr
services should be required by your Majesty's implacable
Enemy.

We, therefore, humbly beseech your Majesty to direct a NI,
and effective Inquiry to be made into all the ciuctimstance-
which led to the Conclusion of a Convention, so inconsistent
with the brilliant Achievement of your Armies, on the seven-
teenth and twenty-first of August, that the true causes thereof
may he made manifest to your Majesty's faithful and affectionate
People*: and that your Majesty will he graciously pleased
forthwith to assemble your Parliament, that such Inquiry may
he instituted, as to them in their wisdom shall seem expedient.
The motion was put, that this Address be agreed to, which
was carried unanimously.
The Address was appointed to be presented to his Majesty by
Sir F. Iliirdett, Mr. Sheridan. and the High Bailiff.
The thanks of the Meeting were then voted to Arthur Morrir,
Esq. the High Bailiff of Westminster, for his honourable and
impartial conduct on the occasion.
The Meeting was very numerous, there being at least .5000
people in the Hall, and the • business upon the whole %as
ducted within great decorum.
' -01111111 ft-.
EADING (REIMS), OCT. 18.--Pursuant to a requisition
signed by a number of the Freeholders of this Comity, and
an order issued inconsequence thereof by the High
a most numerous and respectable Meeting of the Nobility,
Clergy, and Freeholders, was this day held in the Town-
ball, for the purpose of taking into their consideration the
terms of the late Convention in Portugal, which has been
acceded to by the British General Officers commanding in
that country, and fur expressing to His Majesty their sen-