The National Register.
London, England, 1809-07-02 00:00:00

T}E NATIONAL REGISTER.

the purity of that House. Lord CA IC LER Eft Gu re4ret ted ver%
much the accident that brought him in contact with such a man
as REDING, for till that period he was ignorant that such a cha-
ratter existed as a Trafficking Broker. He relied upon the asser-
tion that he had no unworthy motives in serving his friend, and
admitted thatte had been in error, thowgh.not to the extent, or
in the manner imputed to him. Upon the division there was
$ majority of only forty-nine in favour of his Lordship.
This decision occasioned considerable surprise—but we are cer-
tainly not among the number of those who impute any consider-
able degree of criminality to his Lordship in the transaction al-
luded to.and yet we cannot be blind to the effect which a ge-
neral conduct of this nature must lead to, and the injury which
the constitution must eventually stiffer from the practice of any
interference whatever on the part of Ministers in the business of
elections, or the recommendation of the representatives, and still
more so from the exchange of patronage or emolument for par-
liamentary interest ; but we consider that this practice having
obtained, a remedy may and ought to be applied without incul-
pating those who, without any improper motives, have appeared
to acquiesce in it.

On the 11th May, Mr, MA nnocits brought forward Charges
of Corruption against Lord CASTLEREAGII and Mr. PERM.
VA L. and moved Tor a Committee to investigate the same. Ills
statement was, that a sum of money had been paid to Lord CAS+
TLICREA GU by Quits-rig DICK, Esq. for the purpose of his be-
ing returned to Parliament, in consequente of which he' was re-
turned for the Borough of Cashel, but that when he informed
Lord CASTLEREAGH, that he intended to vote against the con-
duct of 'the Dunn of Yonx, the Noble Lord suggested the
propriety of relinquishing his seat rather than give such a vote.
The Charge against Mr. PERCENT AI, was merely, that he knew
of this transaction.—lt was contended: on the one band, that
there would be pecaliar hardship lit selecting at this moment
two stately victims for sacrifice, when the offence had been
general, and so long connived at. On the other hand it Was
Urged that it does not signify how long offences have been con-
.
„*uived at, or how many may be implicated, but that whenever
brought to light they ought not to escape reprehension.—This
question Involves many considerations of morality and justice;
xnd it is difficult to draw any general conclusions from this par-
ticular case without entering into the subject more at large than
our limits will permit. A discussion took place a few days of
terwards in the House of Commons, which had nearly led to
Orions consequences : Mr. TIERNEY charged Sir F. By RDZTT
with using expressions at a Dinner, given by the Friends of
Reform, at the Crown and Anchor, which terminated in a de-
claration from Sir F. BUR DETT, that he had not said that
)11r. TIERNEY'S pockets were swelling with public money—
that he was always ready to disavow what he did not say, and
for what he did say, he was personally responsible. Another
interesting discussion took place on the 24th May, respecting the
appointment of Lord Mt tt GII tam, the son of a Cabinet Minis-
ter, to a Lieut.Culonelcy, within six years after his entrance into
the army. Col. SHIP LE v brought this business forward as a-no-
torious violation, not only of the DUKE of YORK'S regulations,
but of the more recent regulations of the present Commander
In Chief. Colonel Shipley's motion was for a copy of Lord
BURGHURSII'S commission of Major, with the date of it, and
it was carried against Ministers by a trajori ty of 71 to 67. Af-
ter this decision, his Majesty was advised Co annul the comulis-
: lions of Major and Lieutenant-Colonel given to Lord 13unc-
SMASH, who is now only a captain in the army. Upon this
occasion 'Ministers certainly chewed a very proper deference to
the decision of the House, and we think the decision of great
Importance to the army itself, as it will secure the officers from
110 barefaced a violation in favour of young men of rank and
interest. In the Navy, there is no instance of a man being ap-
.
' poured captain who .had' not actually gone through the several
'situations of Midshipmsta and Lieutenant, and surely we di

• . JULY S.

not want a better school' foi making excellent officers. Lucl.lD
is said to have told one of the PTOLEMIES, that there was no
royal timid to Matlfeitatici, and there should certainly he none
brit that of merit •to superior sititations in the army. The
debates which have taken place upon Mr. CUILWEN's
for Preventing the Sale df Seats in Parliament, also rittracted a
considerable degree of interest: It met in the beginning with
decided support from thow who professed to he enemies to more
violent innovations, butfilerfds to MOrierate Reform: 111 r. Cult -
WEN introduced the Bill as operating a. t..•:..-Aerahle than v
the state of representation, by giving a much greater

derance to the Landed interest. Upon this g nd
many who opposed it, considering that in practice it 41 ad..
vantage to the State that opulent merchants and mcn of -eat
professional eminence, should end an easy admix on into Par-
liament.

Others opposed it on the ground, that it would leave the bo-
roughs more in the power of the Treasury, by removing all
competition. It was stated as a fact, that a seat in Parliament
had been in one instance surrendered as part of a bankrupts
effects under a commission. The practice of selling Podia-.
mentary interest had got to such a length, that the Speaker,
in delivering his opinions in favour of the Rill, said, that if this, or
some such meastire were not speedily adopted, seats in the HOllfe
would probably soon be sold by public auction, which would be
thegreatest scandal that could be offered. Ministers admitted the
necessity of this scandal being done away, but resisted the oath
which was proposed to be administered to Orsons elected, that
they had not been guilty of any bribery direct or indirect in
order to gain their seats. This oath was considered by many as
the most efficient part of the Bill.—ln the different debates,
Ministers defended the Ijouse of Commons, as it now stands, from
the reproaches cast upon it, and Mr. Rose proved very satis-
factorily that the number of Members now holding places or
pensions during pleasure, was much smaller than at any former
period, and that a number of useless and sinecure places had
been abolished.—lt was urged that nothing could be more con-
trary to the practice of the Constitution than the plans
of choosing Ministers otherwise than from Parliament, the
effect of a different practice in the two CH ARL ES'S and
JAMES the Second's reigns, led them to the fatal endeavour of
governing without a Phrliament. The reasons urged upon this-
side of the question carry considerable weight, and more time
counterbalance what was pleaded on the other side.
It appears to us beyond all question that Ministers, and the
persons holding responsible offices under them, should certainly
be chosen from among the Members of Parliament, and that the
character of Parliament itself is very much heightened by the
circumstance of the responsible advisers of the Crown sitting
among them, and =being liable to be called upon by an) indivi-
dual Member to defend or explain to the House and to the
Country the reasons which have induced them to give such
advice. In all the Monarchies which haveenot the advantage of
an independent legislature, the highest offices of the kingdom are'
given to favourites, little is done and little is expected to be done
but from prostitution, bribery, or intrigue. The dispenser
of power and office being commonly a Mistress in male
courts, and a Paramour in female ones, and of pimps,
panders, domestics, flatterers, and intriguers in both. In England
we have seen Ministers able to hold the Sovereign himself at
bay, and hold a language that would scarcely be tolerated be-
tween individuals of an equal rank. In England it is absolutely
impossible that a man should long continue the Minister who
was not possessed of abilities to defend and justify the measures
he adopted; and we think it more than probable, that the
prosperity of the Empire is owing in a great measure to titan
cause, united with the freedom of its press, and the publicity
which is given to the proceedings in the two Houses of Perna-
ment. The Reform in Parliament, brought forward by Sir
F. BtIRDWiTI is another .feature
.of considerable isapeetpacul