The National Register.
London, England, 1809-11-05 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTrR.

FRIDAY, Nov. 3.
The proceedings of the last Coart having been read, the RE-
CO DF:R read to the Court his Majesty's most gracious answer
td) their A ddres of Congratulation, which was ordered to be
entered on the Journals of the city.

ROYAL BENEVOLENCE.
Mr. JACKS said, that he could not avoid tnking the present
occasion to state to the Court, and he wished it to be recorded
in their Journals for the information and example of future
ages, that his Majesty had, io a signal manner displayed his
royal benevolence upon the occasion of the Jubilee, to
which the address and the answer related. He held in his
b•lnd an advertisement (and the authenticity of it could
r. ; be doubted), from the Society for dicharging persons
contin..l for small debts, acknowledging the noble donation of
2000!. f.am his Majesty, to be applied to the relief and dis-
charge of persons imprisoned for small debts in England and
Wales. He knew that this was the fact, and he thought it
would he becoming the Court to have this instance of Royal
benevolence inserted on their journals. lie conceived that it
was a high compliment to them, that not only the country at
large, but the King himself, had followed the example which
they had set with respect to the relief of persons confined for
small debts. lie concluded by moving a Resolution, which was
in substance, " That the Court felt highly gratified that their
suggestion with respect to the persons imprisoned for small debts
had been followed with much unanimity in all parts of the
United King:loin. and that they felt peculiarly honoured in its
meeting with the approbation of their beloved Sovereign, who
had himself given, out of his private purse, a sum of 2000'.
in furtherance of the object proposed; and that for this as well
as numerous other instances of the Royal benevolence and
mercy, the Court felt highly indebted to his Majesty."
The motion wan seconded by Mr. Deputy Box.
Mr. MILLER objected to the entering of this donation on the
Journals, as he thought, that, considering all the circumstances
of the case, the sum was too trifling to be worthy of serious no-
tice. On such an occasion as a Jubilee for his having entered
the 50th year of his reign,_ he would have expected that
a King of England, with such enormous revenues, would
have given a much larger sum. When it was also recollected
how immensely rich our King is, instead of considering this as
a great present once in fifty.years, he would rather expect that
such a sum would be given every month or every week of his
life, to relieve the distresses of his suffering subjects. A sum
of 20001. givep by a Sovereign once in his live, and upon such
an occasion, was hardly a matter to require any particular no-
tice. Individuals often did as much without receiving thanks.
fir Francis Burdett had given, at one time, 1000/. to the West-
minster Infirmary, and yet it was not thought accessary to re-
turn him thanks for it. several private Nobleman had, at dif-
ferent times, given larger sums for public purposes, and yet in
them it was only considered as a common act of liberality, and
Ito particular thanks were conceived necessary. The resolu-
tion also stated numberless instaoces of Royal benevolence and
munificence. He did not recollect those instances) and there
(ore could not agree in that part of the resolution. For those
reasons, be wished that the motion should be withdrawn.
Mr. Deputy j(pilILE did not believe that the King was. so
inwensely rich as it was generally supposed. If he had very
large revenues, he was a trustee to the public for their applica-
tion. He had not only given the sum of 2000/. for the Debtors
pf England and Wales, but he had also given 110001. to the
IDebtors of if)cotlandt and another 10001. to the Debtors of Ire-
4nd.
Mr. S. DIXON said, that he would much rather that the mo-
tion was withdrawn, than that the Court should enter upon a
Iliscnssion relative to the private affairs of his Majesty.
4fter a few words from Mr. Deputy Box and another Meta.
M Jacks' motion

fluent that he had heard that the motion which had
notice of by one Gentleman, and afterwards aband,
brought forward by another, merely for the purpns,
clueing this long amendment. The unfairness of this
consisted in this—that many Members of the Court
ignorant of the intention to bring it forward, and ;
while, on the other hand, there was a canvass for a,
Among those who knew that it was to be brought foi
felt it contrary to the honour and credit of the Court
lotions should be obtained by a surprize of this na
amendment hadlittle or nothing to do with the notice
the Court had met, and if it were allowed to stand
books, it would he a precedent for every sort of su,
that Court, by amendments which could riot be fo
any thing in the notice. He declared that he did no►
to touch the vote in favour of Colonel Wardle. IL
jected to the amendment, which contained much extran,
ter, and in which the Court was completely taken
not having the least reason to expect that on a ques,
was abandoned by the Mover, of rescinding the th,
Wardle, an amendment could be introduced, condei
Castlereagh and Mr. Perceval, and giving an opinioT
rated questions of finance. He therefore thought
for the honoui and character of the Court, to mo.
resolution contained in the said amendment should be

Mr. Deputy Box seconded the motion. lie said,
amendment the former Court had taken upon itself, wi
vious notice, to decide immediately on the first charac
country (a laugh). They were certainly, if not the
rasters in the country, men in the highest confidence
vercign. If fair notice bad however been given, hk
have said a word against the decision, but would ha
it his duty to acquiesce in it.
Alderman GoonnetrEttr defended the Resolution
had originally moved. lie thought that those Gent!
had expressed so much anxiety for the honour and
that Cadrt, had taken rather an odd way of chew
cording l the reasoning of these Gentlemen, no ques,
ever he ;mooted in that Court, when it was not cog
them to attend their duty, or when they happened
town. Did they mean to say, that every question b
ward in that Court must absolutely be curried, si
affirmative or negative, and that there was no roc
alteration in the way of amendment ? If they sa
maintained a doctrine which was contrary to the
that Court, of Parliament, of the India House,
other public body, and even of these Gentlemen themsel
the management. of their private affairs. Whenever
of such a nature was agitated in that Court, it must
dered in stilts various bearings, and the decision mr
the Members who attend ,hall think right, on viewio
tan under its different circumstances. The Gent!
brought forward the motion disclaimed any idea of ti
Vote of Thanks which had been originally given to M
but was it not most evident that the tendering of this .
to extinguish that additional lustre which a form!
forced into a farther discussion of the subject, t
Gentleman was entitled to? When he remembered .
the Mover (Mr. Kemble) spoke of Mr. Wardle,
original Vote of Thanks was passed, he had believ,
Gentleman had abjured his former political errors,
himself under the banners of Freedom and Reform.
ever, now feared that he bad been contaminated since
and thought that the present motion would be amend
made to his former friends for his warmth upon tha
lie knew that the Mover would disdain the imputaf
selfish motive, for he wanted nothing ;
6' No Baron, no 'Squire,
6' No Knight of the Shire,
Liv'd half so well 'l)
hut still he might consider this tribute due to his for'
ships. It appeared to him, however, that this was
when the exertions of good men should be damped
raged. Mr. Wardle had been most s!lamefully cal
and yet, through all the fiery ordeal which he had as
he came out pure. He had lately been calumniated
severing in the prosecution fin. perjury, and for having
excursion to thesea-coast in company with Mrs Clar'
as to the last circumstance, it was known, or it ongi
nerally known, that Mr. Wardle was a man of the
social, and domestic manners. Such a map,, feeling
dy;ies of a 4040 and a father, might go an excursion

per, the question was loudly called for, and Mr. Jacks' motion
w,as carried witl'out a ; ,
.., • . .3eing held up against it.
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