The Sun.
London, England, 1808-10-28 00:00:00

,
ANSLEY, Mayor.
•
A COMMON COUNCIL, hoiden in the 'Chamber of the
Guildhall of the CITY of LONDON, on Thursday the
27th day of Odober, iBoB.
RESOLVED,
1H AT His Majesty's Answer be entered upon the
• Journals. That at the saine time this Court cannot
forbear declaring it as their opinion, that the Address and
Petition presented to his Majesty by this Court, on Wed-
nesday, the 12,th inst. was conceived in the most dutiful and
respectful terms ; fhat it is the undoubted right of the sub-
ject to petition, and that this right ought at all times to be
freely exercised in all matters of public grievance without
obstruetio't or reproof.
That they are, therefore, at a loss to know by what con.
struehon of their said Petition, however strained or perverted,
his Majesty' Advisers could attribute to them any intention
or desire `• t pronounce judgment, without previous investi-
gation."

That they are equally at a loss to know why His Majesty's
Advisers should have ueemed it necessary to remind them,
" That it wa's inconsistent with the principles of British jus-
tic unless to throw an unmerited ~dium on this Corpora..
tion, and raise a barrier bet ween them and the Crown on all
occasions where their objea is free and constitutional in-
quiry.

That had this Court refrained-from expressing to His Ma-
jesty their feelings at the huthiliating termination of the cam-
paign in Portugal, they.must nave ceased to feel—to tikini:L—
to at as Britons, and have she%vn themselves unsusceptible.
of that patriotism so essentially necessary for the preservation
of,their liberties —the maintainance of their national honour—
and the independence and security of 'His Majesty's Crovin
and Dotninions.

They cannot, therefore, sufficiently express their concern,
that they should, by any suggestions, have met with obstrucl
tion and reprehension in the exercise of this undoubted and
invaluable right'.

That they particularly regret that his Majesty should have
been advised to express a hope, " That recent occurrences
would have' convinced them, that his Majesty is at all times
ready to institute I nquiries on oceaslons in which the charac-
ter of the Country, or the honour of his Arms, is concerned ;
and that the interposition of Inc City of London' could not
be necessary for inducing his Majesty to direct due Inquiry
into a transaction liaadisappointed the hopes- and ex-
pectations pf the Nation."

Because it appears, that daring the eventful period of the
last fiftecayeals, various enterpri s,:s and expeditions have been
undertaken, " in which the charatter of the Country, and
the honour-of his Majesty's Aims, were concerned," which
hirYe .;r:evously tailed, and "disappointed the hopes and ex.
pedations of the Nation," and into w►►ich " due enquiry"
.has not been made. That in one 'of the recent:occurrences
to which hip Majesty's Answer refers, it is not known, even
a,x•the present moment,' by. whose advice the Commander in
Chief was appointed, or on what accounts such Commander
was seletteu.

That during all these calamitous events, and wasteful pro-
furwn of blood and treasure, the public tyurthena have been
patiently borne, and his Majesty has not been called upon by
" the interposition of the L.:Ay of London" (if their humble
supplication must be so termed) to institute inquiries into
these failures, although it appears to them that such " in-
terposition" might have been highly netessary and beneficial
to the Country, and by promoting " due inquiry," precluded
the necessity of their late application.

That during these unhappy reverses, and while his Ma-
jesty's subjects submitted to stLniany privations, the most
shameful and .scandalous abuses and peculations have pre-
vatted ; into which " nue inquiry" has nut been made, sq as
to bring to justice such great public Delinquents.
That whoever advised his Majesty to put so unfavourable
and unwarrantable a construction on their late Petition, has
abused the confidence of his Sovereign, and is equally an
enethy to his'Majesty and the Rights of his People.
That they do not attribute guilt to any one, much less do
they pronounce judgment without previous. investigation.—
TheLask for investigation, prompt and rigid investigation,
and flite punishment of guilt y! herever it may be found.
Signed by Order of the Court,
WOODTHOR PE.