The National Register.
London, England, 1808-10-30 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

701

cumstances ; and if they did not call for an inquiry, they would
be acting unworthy of their ancestors. If ever the right of ad-
dressing his ;Majesty could properly he exercised upon any occa-
sion, he thought it could most properly be exercbe,l tin the prot
sent occasion, in which the hohour of his Majesty's arms atm Of
the country were so deeply Involved. It was to be observed that
while such shameful events were occurring the means of corrup-
tion were increasing in the hands of the Ministers. A fir r further
observations, his Lordship concluded by moving an Address to hit
Nlajesty, expressive of their loyalty and attachmeat to his per.
son and Covernment, and, at the bailie time, of their strung teas
iog for the honour of his Alt%jesty's arms and the character of the
Country, and' praying him to institute smelt an Inquiry its s‘oni4
lead to the discovery of the real causes and authors of the Coo-
vention in Portugal.
Mr. Western read the Address, u Writ was to be submitted I,
their coteldrration.

Mr. 1)u Cane warmly supported the motion of the Nohle
Lord. Ile agreed with the universal sentiment in reprobatin•
the Convention-4f rintra, as a most disgracefhl transaction, un3
in thinking, that the right of petitioning the Throne could hardly
be ever exercised on a more important or proper occasion. It
had been said, that such an interference would be erejudging the
case of individuals. lie could Dot see the justiccof web as ob-
servation' ant did he see bow the nation mild avoid ,fatming ad
opinion that guilt or misconduct attached somewheres wileu they
compared the Gazette which had announced a glorious victory
over the whole of the French army, with that I-% rmistice and
Convention by which we engaged to send the French home in
British ships. It appeared to him very important that the
sense of the nation should he distinctly pronounced upon this
Convention, as that might vi ipe away, in, some degrees-the stain
which our character had received, of being wanting in good faith
to our sillies, and of being careless Of their interest%

Mr. Burgoyne moved the adjournment from the Mil to the
open air, which wit:, put and carried,
The Meeting then adjourned, and the Petitioa was again read
and supported by Mr. Du Cane, with argumelits similar to what
he hind before adduced,

Mr. Convers ( who was on horseback) then addressed the
Meeting. lie said, that he felt as much as any man fur the honour
of the country, awl %soakd do as much to support it. lie, there-
fore. congratulated the country on their feelinb w with respect It.
the Convention, but did not think it proper ordet eta to address
his Majesty for an inquiry when his Majesty had pledged him-
self to the nation that lie would institute an inquiry. lie thought
Gentlemen should at least treat his Majesty with as much re-
spect as they trea•ed one another, and not net towards bitu iu a
way that one private gentleman could not with impunity act to
another. Ile thought, that in bringing forward tuts tpiestiou,,
there was something of party motives, and that lie saw a snake
in the grass. A great canvass had been made to induce the Free-
holders to support it; and it had been said, that the Iliad of
Essex and the Marquis of Buckiegham approved of it. Lle bad
the honour of personal friendship with tiw Earl of Essex, but
on the present occasioli lie would not ask what was the opinion
of the Earl of Essex. but wlint was the opinion of the Ftec -
holders of Essex. As to the Marquis of Buckingham, he con-
sidered him ns the most successful political speculator in the
country, lie had got more places and pensions for himself and
his family than any other mart in the kingdom.. II is family still
bear 6' blushing honours thick upon them," although in oppo-
sition to his Majesty's Ministers, and would certainly not be sorry
to have their great talents called again into employment, and
receive still farther rewards, Nut meaning to express an opi-
nion fitourahle to tile Convention, and at the same time wish-
ing to avoid any personal disrespect to his Majesty, he moved
that the meeting should adjoam.
Mr. Bramston seconded the motion for adjournment. He con-
ceived any Address to his Majesty, in the present !,tage of the
business, as being unnecessary and unjust. it was unnecessary,
iu as far as his Majesty had already declared, that an inquiry
into the transactions in question was to take place ; and to doubt
his Majesty's declaration On this head, was to treat him with
disrespect and suspicion. On considering the Articles of the
Convention, he confessed that he could not contend that they
were tint in sonic respects reprehensible; but, at the same time,
he could not admit them, comparatively speaking, so decidedly
calamitous as they *ere generally represented. They bore in
many respects, and that too in their most objectionable features,
a great similarity to the conclusion of one of the most gallant
and brilliant campaigns in which this country had been engaged
•in modern times.—lle meant the campaign in Egypt, fur which
the gallant Officer who commanded is it had been rewarded wi:„1

rip,