The National Register.
London, England, 1820-05-15 00:00:00

GRANIPOUND.—Lord J. RUSSELL moved for leave to
bring in a Bill to exclude Grampound from exercisiug
the right of returning two Meinhers, amid to transfei that
right to the Bo' ough of Leeds. He proposed to invest the
right of voting in persons rated at 51. and upwards, and
to the holtabitants ot the neigh bunting villages, anion siting
to about this ty. The inhabitants amounted to about
70,000, the windier of Coleus, it Was expected, would be
about 7,000. His main object was to deprive a convicted
Borough of the elective franchise. He concluded with
:nosing for leave to bring in a Bill.
Mr. CANNING admitted the correctness of the prin-
ciple that a Borough convicted of corruption should be
disfranchised—bur protested against its being interred
that lie approved of the transfer to Leeds. He also pro-
tested against any general principle being drawn Irons
this specific proceeding. To that he should be no party.
He asked for information whether it was intended that
Itlrampoond should be heard by Counsel?
Lord J. RUSSELL answered in the negative, the case
having been investigated by Parliament.
Motion agreed to, Bill brought in, read a first time, and
ordered to be read a second time on Friday selinight.
THE Queme.—Lord A. HAMILTON enquired whether
there was to be any provision made fur the Queen, and
when it was to be proposed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied,
that provision for the Queen, as well as other branches of
the Royal Family, would be proposed.
TIIE LATE CONSPIRACY.—Mr. Alderman WOOD rose
'to move for a Select Committee to examine Charges of
High Treason against George Edwards.---The evidence
had come before him as a Magistrate. He had made every
effort to induce the highest authority, the Secretary ut
State, to inlet fere, but in vain. He had thirty depositions,
which be should deem it his du y to read, unless be had a
Committee; but lie hoped a Committee would be granted.
Edwards was the person who suggested plots, and sup-
plied money, weapons, &c. The worthy Alderman said,
be should persevere, except the authorities would inter-
fere. Threats would have no effect ou him.—The case
was similar to that where he had rescued three men from
destruction who had been trepanned; the ditterence herr
was, the increased atrocity oldie crime which the parties
were seduced to commit. He then proceeded to read
the substance of the depositions which detailed minutely
the facts.
Sir R. WILSON seconded the motion for a Committee,
condemning a Spy system, and maintaining that no Admi-
nistration could be good which might require the aid of
any such system.
The SPEAKER then pot the question.
Mr. BANKES said, that such a motion ought to be
sepported either by some case of precedent, or some
analogy in other times ; or it ought to be founded on the
urgent necessity e4' the case. The motion was totally
inconsistent with every thing he understood constantly to
'belong to the functions of that House. He (Mr. Banker)
did not deny that Edwards was implicated in guilt, but
the others who acted with him were nut less so: butt,
however atrocious the plot, he thought it was shaken at
the present moment, and that no danger could now be
feared from it. What, then, was the object of the hon.
Alderman by this motion? as it that Edwards should
be brought to justice as a traitor to his country, or to
those associates to whom it would seem he was more
bound? This could not be his object, for, by his own
admission, lie would not have him, or any man, punished
with death for that or any other crime, except murder :
but the lion. Alderman wished that this man should be
sent out of the country; but this object would be attained
without his motion,and that according to his own state-
ment. What wools! the lion. Alderman say if a gang of
robbers had laid a plot to plunder his house and attack
his family, and information of the intended attack were
communicated by one of the party? Would lie say to
him, ' Go, you are as bad as the rest ; you deserve no
credit, and ought to be punished." Would the lion. Al-
derman say this, auil, after having dismissed his informant,
go supinely and stupidly to sleep? Ile (Mr. Bankes)
was certain that no man would act so incautiously; and
were the House to be told that less care was to be taken
for the public than for an individual?—There was a great
man, a magistrate of ancient times, and of another coun-
try—lie certainly did not mean to compare Ishii to the
worthy Alderman—whose vigilance and integrity had
saved his country Irons a most foul conspiracy. He hail
a different opinion from that entertained by the loon. Al-
derman on this' subject of getting information from some
of the guilty pat lies. Whatever other opinions might be
entertained of that great man (Cicero), there would be,
he believed, hut one on his conduct on that occasion. He
had nut hesitated to seek and receive information, from
the comic:an ot Cataline's designs ; and the am-
bassadors of the Allobroges he encouraged to continue to
attend the meetings of the cont.piratorcin oi der that their
designs might be more folly discoctreil.—Legatis prtycipii
ut thulium conjuralionis vehtntenter simulent caltrot witting:
bens polliceantur, &Wrote operant, at cos vows Non urns mani-
festos Itabeant. Such was the conduct 01 that great mall
and excellent magistrate ; and it was a conduct fur whico
be bad 'levet been accused by the lovers of their eitnetly.
(llr, ar, hear.) Its conclusion, the hon. gent. again ex-
pressed, that lie sea' no ground whatever for acceding to
the present motion.
Mr. HOIIHOt SF. rose.—The hon. Member said, that
in offeting a few obsel voitions on this subject he had 111
chains the usual kindness of the House to a clung Mcill het
—(lleat );—atool puthaps he requited on this occasion
moors' than that usual kiedness, for lie could too coheres
front himself, nor could the hon. Members coticeal font
themselves, the peculiarity of the situation to oh.. It roe
stood in the Hosea.. On this ground, therefoi e, hr had to
solicit flu it indulgence; and hr also need, d it tei moot het
s collect, for it 'might be COlibillv it'd a degree of boldness
in Mtn to rise tot the pin pose ot combating the opinions
id a gentleman ot the long experience and high Molotov,
with olic !tense, ati%l the public tit large, sit the lion. Ment-
hes who lied poi sat dosses. It Might stri.eill bold ill IMO
t'e euitili.mit I kill 0111111011 coutqug atom such audio' 41.
tital the to w min precedent lu he, untold for what he
tel reed t sit dot (hearty it IM 11:•111 eas was ploposeti by
the km,. Atilt mar.. Its' (Mr ii ) howeve I, held art optitiott
on quest...l. tidies wg silt Is lion. that Mlitcoeit by
the lion. Ali WO. I ; tiiiir•K a• Opt); aist of errs)
clifftirute 61 I\‘ 11, I ighl and V114.11V,.--11111eS/ hits %It% I
the quit 5% noily;nrsrM 55as sii*
ba
Ilibject a• n 1.1111,14 l'alliameni ought oleo musty to eursoder
'floc boo. At sodoei load said that the et unmet jurisilictioito ot
the coma!, elight out to be nierldri tr wit 1. N 1 as it bc-
calist. 1'111141111(1a had r dune so helutt f Did the
bon. Member mean to assert that thete weec out ittcce-