The National Register.
London, England, 1821-06-18 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

Mr. CALCRAFT also acknowledged the importance of
the meawire, but he hoped that no member of parliament
would be named of the commission, which would add fresh
burdens to the country, as there were already member?
enough holding places. This inhuence Was felt iu divisions.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIII:QUER said, that
oue member was to be named, but be would not require any
remunerations.
Mr. HUME did not know why five commissioners were to
be named, mid he objected to the appointment of members,
whether they ice-iond pay or not. Tho•it as ho were ap-
pointed ought not to have any other shit:won.
Mr. L LEW IS said lie had been named fur the conuni,
-• . If he were appointed, whether paid or not, he should
(10 his duty ; hot was there to be an exception, teguidiug pay,
in his iustanee ? Was it to be said, that because a Illeltlbei tla.
paid fur honest services, I,ii OpilliOllS mu,t therefore here,.
sarily lie warped? If tie thought so, he shoisid hope illitt
that the ground might open and swallow lion us a ilivgiace
to Immo:, nature. Ile thought souse members ought to be
named on this committee.
Mr. WAI. LA C said he should decline remuneration, be-
cauie he already held office, and he thought that this ap-
pointment might lie made compatible with his other avoca•
*ions. The principle, however, of accept in; service aithuul
regarding it, was out a good one.
Mr. CA LCIt AFT objet led to I lie proceeding on principle.
Ile was against ektentling the lulluence of the crown iii con-
ferring appointments mi members of that liouset To hear
the 11011. gentleman who last spoke, they might be lcd to sup-
pose that he was g gma a forlorn hope—that it was a most
dolwrate proem ding ; fur he never saw a face put into such
a form.

Alter an extruded desultory conversation in which Mr.
Gs enlidl, Sir C. Lung, Sc. took place, the House being iii
a Con )))) ittce ou the bill,
Mr. MARERLY moved as an amendment, that the
Counnissioneis be" Race" in number, instead of " five."
That however was negatived.
On the proposition to insert the name of Mr. .1. Wal-
lace, a member, as a Commissioner, the Committee
divided.—Ayes bl —Noes 23—Majoiity in favour of the
proposition aS.
On the proposition to insert the name of Mr. F. Lewis,
also a member, one of ti.e Isiah Revenue Inquiry Com-
missioners the Committee divided. The numbers were—
Ayes 77—is: oes 31—Majority in favour of the motion 46.
—Report on Monday.
The house then went into a Committee of Supply, an
which . .

........
Mr. IRVING brought forward, at considerable length,
the claims for compensation of Gen. Desfourneux fur
losses at Guadeloupe.
Mr. WIEN FELL considered that a sum of 14891.2 s 4d
would be a full remuneration for General Desfourneux,
tor the losses he hail sustained ; and be would propose
that sum, instead of the grant of 26,0011. which had been
previously proposed.
Mr T. WILSON defended the claim of General Des-
fourneaux to the full extent. . . . .

Mr. Alderman WOOD also supported the proposition
for the larger sum. He thought the honour of the country
was pledged to pay this just debt.
Mr. HUME'. wished to know if this claim had been sub-
mitted to a Select Committee; if it had, the vote should
have his support.
Mr. IRVING said, the claim bad been discussed by a
Select Committee.
The Committee then d;vided on Mr. Grenfell's Amend-
ment—for the original resolution 53—for the amendment
10—majmity for the General's claim :A.
The remaining orders and business having been disposed
of, the House adjourned to Monday.

187

MR. CANNING AND SIR FRANCIS BURDRTT

On the 4th of April last, while Sir Francis Bur-
dett was confined in the King's Bench for writing
that excellent address to his constituents on the
subject of the outrage of the 16th of August, a party
of the Friends of Parliamentary Reform dined to-
gether, to the Chairman of which party Sir Franca
addressed a letter, in which, among other things, he
said—" Gentlemen, that Mr. Canning—l mention
him its the champion of the party—a part for the
whole—should defend to the uttermost, x system,
lay ti.ie hocus-pocus tricks of which he and his family
gel so inudi public money, can cause neither me, nor
any man. surprise or anger:—
, For 'tis their duty, all the learned think
To espouse that cause by which they eat and drink.'"
Mr. Canning returned from the Continent on
the 6th inst. and the following correspondence has
since taken place :
(No. 1.)
TO SIR FRANCIS BURDETT.
"Gloucester I Axlge, June 7. 111?1.
" a letter bearing your signature, and purporting to
have been addressed by you to the Chairman of a dinner of Par-
liamentary Reformers on the 4111 of April, which was published
in several of the newspapers of the fallowing day, a liberty is taken
with my name, as little justifiable (in my judgment) by differences
of political opinion, as it is reeuncileable with the ordinary
courtesies of private life.
" The obviou, meanicg of that passage in your letter of which
I complain, is, tir impute to me, that in upholding the present
sys;eio of representation in the House of Commons, I sin actuated
by the corrupt and dot aunourable motive of a personal pecuniary
interest.
" It cannot be a matter of surprise to you, that I should feel
myself under the necessity of requiring at your hands a disavowal
of the inu.utation which that passage appears to convey. Should
you be curable or unwilling, toaliord me a satisfactory explanation
on this point, I have then to demand of you the only other
reparation which an injury of such a name admits.
• • • • • • • • • •
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
" Tour must obedient servant.
(Signed) " Gr.°. CANNING."
• The remainder of the letter is occupied in
assigning Sir Francis's confinement as a reason for
the delay that had occurred.

(No. 4..)
TO THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE CANNING.

" St. James's Place, June Ft, 1821.
SIR,—I am not aware of having made any unjustifiable
allusion to you, or of having said of you in my letter to the
Chairman of the Reform Meeting, more than all political men.
who benefit from the system which they advocate, are fairly and
necessarily subject to.
• The letter in question is now before me; and I am at a less
for a form of words in which 1 could have more guardedly
marked the disqualification under which I conceive yourself and
others to be from giving authority to your opinion an Parlia-
mentary Reform, and at the same time have avoided makingany
allusion whatever to personal character.
" Not having intended. and not baring made (u I read the
letter) any such allusion at the time, I cannot now hesitate, in a
more particular manner, to disclaim having ever had such an
intends
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
•• Your most obedient humble servant.
(Signed) " F. BURDETT."