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

NOWT/CAL EVENTS OP THE WEEK.

The meeting of the Freeholders of the County of Essex,
in the Shire-hall at Chelmsford, on Friday Lst, excused
the warmest degree of interest and participation in the
minds of the public. The purpose, fig which they were
convened, was so truly momentous, that we foudly antici-
pated a result very different from that e.iiich has taken
place. The individuals, who were most veciferpus and
indecent in their cries fur adjournment, have, unfortu-
nately, not reflected enough on the consequences of the
precedent they have given. We expected dignity and ills.
passionate conduct on so serious a business ; and did nut
believe that any person would employ oblique insinuations,
or irrelevant remarks, 'to distract the attention of the as-
:mbly from the main point in agitation. The conduct of
those, who voted for an inquiry, was moderate, dignified,
end always relative to the question ; it is to he lamented,
that the Persons who voted on the ether side, were nut in.
lieenced by the example. The strong indignation, "hick
the first intelligence of the Armistice end Convention of
Cintra produced, had subsided ; aid the public, in confor-
mity with maxims of British justice, demanded an impar-
tial and immediate inquiry into a transaction, which they
consider as disgraceful to the national honour, and h;ghly
;il3uriou. to the intercets of our retlies. Qe aq one ocea,
lion, fur the last fifty years, have the people manifested
more moderation, we were almost tempted to say, unwar-
rantable lenity, than they have on the present. They were
sensible that their character was strongly implicated by the
I.;non,inious bulipess; and they were willing. to give every
to government fpr its 4incere &lire to institute an
enmediate investigation. Labouring wider this conviction,
:hey thought it expedient and leyal to give weight to the
determination of Ministers by secondieg it with their peti-
Lou, to the throne.. vague rumour had gone ehroad, that
a powerful family had influence enough to counteract the
ironest exertions of some Members cif the Cabinet, w husc ta-
.wits, independence, and iutegrity, justified the opinion, that
they were favourable to an Inquiry ; and the Cities of London
and Westminster immediately came forward in support of
these honest Servants of the Crown. The Answer returned to
tic Petition of the former, so fathom invalidating this re.
19rt, was considered as as undeniable proof of this undue
iiifluence ; and the Public felt a stronger desire to interpose
between the Royal car and the troublesome cries of an
obnoxious and interested Party. • Such we believe, were
the impressions uuder which the several Meetings were
cJnyeiteds and net, as• wo very insidiously, very impru-
dently, and it{ a manner very insulting to the acknowledged
generosity of the British Nation, to promote the designs of
Faction, or to supersede the ustial feline of Justice. In
rimer to give a direct contradiction to so unjustifiable an
:issertion, the Freehol.lers of Essex were invited to assem-
?:ei Mni aR Vlicernmon degree of interest was attached to a
ve:eting, where, from the maritime situation of the county,
a number of Naval and Military Officers were expected to'
Vsithd. It was a kind of National synod, where rerresen-

697

tatives from the Army. the Navy, anti People were assem-
bled to give their opinion on a subject which was equally
disgraceful to ail, However, serious and impressive as
these motives have been, a majority of that very Meeting,
with a perfect disregard for the feelings of the Country,
and the opinion of Europe and Posterity, have felt no re-
pugnance to vote an adjournment, on a question the most
momentous, the most comprehensive, that was ever submit,
ted to discussion. It was a question of right they had to
decide on, as well as to express their strong senaiy of disap-
probation of a transaction, which their KING himself had
told them was disgraceful and unexpected; and we had the
mortification to see one member, who was repeatedly
called to order for incorrect statements, and travelling out
of the record, come forward with an assurance we did not
expert from him, or any other man in this country, te► de-
fend the necessity, and even prove the advantage of this
very Armistice and Convention, which have occasioned so
much regret, disappointment, and shame, to the people of
the United Kingdom. We arc very much mistaken in the
sentiments of our SovEn Ems, if the efforts of this Mr.
R►;.+ats•roy to &fend a meastpe so detrimental to the cha-
racter of the Nation and Government, will be received with
any other feeling than contempt and disapprobation, 11,.
is egregiously deceived if he thinks that his oral in a cause
so repulsive to the Royal mind, as insulting to the popular
feeling., shall he requited in any other manner. We ;than-
don him and his colleagues to the honourable task of 41e,
fending a transaction which, even the individuals who
signed it consider so ignominious, that they probably
would, with the sacrifice of their sere lives, clear their
character, if posslile, from any share in the abominable
disgrace,

To paint out their conduct in the clearest light it is only
necessary to contrast it with the spirited resolutions adopt-
ed, on Thursday last, by the Common Council of London.
That day was an honourable one for that respectable Cor-
poration ; and, if we except a certain S.tsar EL Dix ow, and
an Alderman Biter., who, we recollect, came boldly for-
ward as advocates for inquiry on a former day, there was
au unanimity of opinion evinced. and a spirit displayed.
which we thought interred in the tombs of liceficono,
Caostiv, and IVituirs. The contemptible minority of
two, we alluded to, thought, on a former occasion, that
their votes in favour of investigation should be accept
able to their patrons ; but as soon as they began to
discover contrary sentiments in that quarter, they were
eager, by their obsequiousness and servility. to prove that
their condu.A, in the t rst stage of the business, was not an
insolent affectation of iudcpendeuce ; but proceeded from
their conviction, that it might have been confosmable to
the wishes of their superiors. They made, poor people, a
must egregious blunder ; and We are very much deceived
in one, if he would not give the tip of his little finger,
that he had been more discreet and circumspect. His way-
wardness has done him an injury which years of submis-
siveness and want of principle shall not be able to oblite-.
rate.

We receivcd‘Werdor afternoon, Swinish Papers to the
22d inst. which commulicate the highly-pleasing
Bence of the re-occupstion of Bilboa by the Spanish
Army under the command of General Bt. 4%i F. This into
resting event took place on the 13th inst. The whole of tin:
French army, amounting, it is said, to no snore than /13,000

r

69S

0 C T
oathsome du;:geon,
e of their preCeres-
addenly restored to
;te descendants had
do homage to a
might re-Open :md
wificss they moo.
uf his cre,itiye ge.
ve policy are frus-
'arch. The pillage
and Tartars in Fin-
other-in-law of that
dishonored su!!-
Lt Prtsetil- Ile has
y the animosity and
'G oh SWVDFN ; hut
a he will have cause
perfidious cwweils
:ent. of the Russiaii
ereigns than AtEx-
y do we regret the
playing. The Phi-
-1 such sanguine CA-
ign ; and he
bjects, the aggran-
of mankind, to the
Ited in an iudefioite
immortal :horur;
t province from the
runs; reinforcements
KLiszosron si as re-
ncluding a cessatioo
if the army', which
ierny, This g-allao
o retire ; but as soon
,he wrote to his •
he triumphs of tlif•
t in its misfortune.-
mistice will lead to
ery thing relative to
denends on the lir.
h. If he return dis-
discontent will 1w
t %rant continues to
nce he acquired du-
no doubt but he will
he undertook for no
of Bonaparte.
al upon the Anortsr
osition received front
lonaparte ; and
e King's 3lessengcrs,
the British. Govern-
e, to Boulogne, and
;hers' Report. and
one assize and a half
this day, when the
Did for is. 3.1 d. and
ced at the Ohl
during the werA•