The Sun.
London, England, 1812-08-06 00:00:00

NAVAL

PLYMotiTn, AUG. 4.---Thelntelligent gun-brig,
Lieutenant Tucßta; bas f:etained and sent in
here this,day the American ship Charles, belong-
ing
and bound to Portsmouth ;, the New Hamp-
shire, ELWELL, master, from Portsmouth, in bah'
last, sailed thence on Saturday last.

Arrived his' Majesty'S. schooner Phipps from'a
cruize ; the Friend's -Goodwill;JAß VIS, from South -
ampt.so-n ; Harriet, Hocwis, from‘Portsmouth ;
the Zephyr, LUMSDEN, Tribley, TYTENS, Ann,
MILLER, and the Antelope, JonssoN, from .Sun-
derland, laden with coal=, for this port ; the Mary
and Betsey, COURTIS, from Fowey ; New Provi-
dence, RABY, from Lymington ; the'Good littent,
PENT REATA, Joseph, Jon=ss, and the Fortune,
THOMAS, from 'Penzance ;• the Fox, I3ERRIMAN,
from Liverpool; the Fancy, TOZER, Triton,
TYLCK, "Sally, MARSHALL, Reward, PEA.KomE,
and the Union, TRENAMAN, from Wales; the Pip-
sey, MoNRO; and the Pacific, TnomrsoN, trom
Sunderland ; the Edward, STREAT,.. fron‘ Dart:,
mouth ; the Dulwich, HARE, and the Hope,
PRYNN, from London ; and the Constance, COL-
LIER, from Bristol.

Also arrived this day the Foxhound sloop of
war, CaptainPAPlSH, from a.eruizeinn-the:Chan-
nel ; she spoke yesterday the Alfred man of war,
from the _Mediterranean, 'which ship has passed
by this port for Portsmouth.

FALMOUTH, AUG. 3.—Arrived the Swiftsure
temporary packet, from the Mediterranean, 'with
mails ; left Malta on the Ist ult. and Gibraltar on
the 22d.

The French Gen: LEVAL, with 6000 infantry,
and 600 horse, was in sight of Gibaltar on the
2d3 his intention was said 'to be to cot off the
communication of DALLESTEHOS with that place;
who is said to have 9,000 troops,'and no doubt.
will make a good resistance : on the 21st he was
at Tongueen.. The expedition had sailed from
Majorca, consisting of 8,000 English and Gel
man troops; besides Spaniards. -
_ _

iris Ajajesty's ship Alceste and convoy for Eng-
and, left-Malta on thet 2d ult.

The Swiftsure, on the da'y of her sailing from
Gibraltar, spoke his Majesty's ship Cossack, and
brig Mary for Malta.

ANOTHER LETTER FROM FALMOUTH, SAME DATE.

Arrived. the Swiftsure packet, from the igedifer-
ranean, last from Gibraltar, in 12 days : when the
pack et left Gibraltar there were about 6,000 French
troops and 400 horse in the Spanish lines, which
completely tut off the communication with the
garrison of Gibraltar.
The ships here (Falmouth) for Gibraltar and
Malta are al, ready for the convoy that is expect-
ed off this port by day-light in the morning.

DEAL AUG. s.—Arrived the Alfred man of war
from the Mediterranean, and the Piedmoritaise fri-'
gate from Portsmouth, and has sailed again fur
\Voorwich also arrived the Countess of Elgin.
cutter, after seeing her convoy into Portsmouth,
and has made signal for the same destination.
Sailed his Majesty's ships Indefatigble and Ides
cutter for off Flushing:

PORTSMOUTH, AUG,. s.—Arrived his Majesty's
ships Circe and kirolrerine from a cruize.
His Majesty's ship Serapis is released from

quarantine.
Sailed through the east end the Harmony, and
yesterday through the west end the Nimrod ; they
are both running ships, and have embarked troops
on board at Cowes for Barbadoes. Another ship
also with troops for Barbadoes, the Caledonia,
remained this morning, at sevenso'clock, in Yar-
mouth roads.

His Majesty's ship Porcupine gives instructions
for. North Ameril,a.

'NAVAL APPOINTMENTS.—Captain Weir, com-
manding the Calypso, promoted to the rank of Post Captain.
Lieutenant C. C. Bennett, to the Cornwall, of 74 guns, at
Sheerness..—Mr. Ylatthev.: Derewzy, Midshipman, promoted
to the rank of Lieuteuant.—Lieutenant Reid, to command the
Arrogant, in the East Indies:--Lieutenant Glasscock, to the
the Clarence, of .74 guns, at Plymouth.—Lieutenant John
Stoddart, to the rank of Commander.-70r. G. W. Harrison,
to be Purser of the Minden of 74 guns, under orders for the
East Indies.—Mr. Simeon Bishop, to be Purser of the Childers
• slo4.—Mr. 'l'. Watson., to be Parser of the Pauline brig,'at
Sheerness. '

N. General Order, dated the 20th of June, has
been transmitted to all the regirriental (repots;
stating the Commander, in Chief's pleasure that
arms and accoutrements will not be supplied for
the full number of men present; as the men or-
dered for embarkation do not take their arms and-
accoutrements with them.

Last week as the smack Matchless was leaving
Leith harbour, one of the passengers in taking
out something, from his pocket, drew out his
pocketbook containing bank-notes. and bills to
the amount of 1201. it was immediately picked up
by a man on board (also a passenger),. who can-
celed it in his side pocket ; having been seen in
the act of taking it up, he was interrogated, but
positively denied having any knowledge of it 5 on
being searched, however, the book, was found on
him. He was immediately put ashore amidst the
hootings .and ,hissings of all who witnessed the
transaction,.

FRENCH PAPERS.

• Paris, July T 7.-
SEVENTH BULLETIN OF THE GRAND ARMY.
His Majesty has erecter!, upon the right bank
of the Villa an entrenched camp, surrounded by
redoubts ; and constructed a citadel upon the
mountain on which was the ancient palace of Ja-
gillons. Thus, two bridges- upon piles are being.
constructed. Three .bridges upon rafts are al-
ready established.
-On the Bth his Majesty, reviewed a part of his
guard, composed of Laborde and Itoguet's divi-
sions, cominanded by Marshal the Duke of Tre-
viso, and the old guard; under the orders of Mar-
shal the Duke: of Dantzic, in front of the intrench-
ed camp. •The flue appearance of these troops ,
excited general adUtiranOn.
On the 4th, Marshal the Duke of Tarentum -set
out frOm his bead-quarters in. Rossien, the capital.
of Samogitia, one of, the handsomest- and most
fertile provinces iu Poland ; the General of Bri-
gade, Ricard; with a part of the 7th divi-
sion, to march upon Poniewiez ; the Prrussian Ge-
nerd. Kleist had been sent upon C.:hawk ; and the
Prussian Brigadier de Jeannerel, with another
Prussian brigade upon.Tilch. These-three Gene-
rals have arrived at their
,destinations. General -
Kleist was only able :to 'reach' a single Russian
Hussar, the enemy having I ttstilY evacuatedCbaW4t, -
after setting the magazines ;on fire.
- Gencraliticard arrived early,in the morning of
the 6th at Poniewicz.. lie had'the good fOrtune
of saving the magazines which were in it, and
which contained .30,-000 quintals of meal. He
took 160 prisoners, among which were four of- '
tigers. This exp.edition does the greatest honour
to the detachment of the Prussian Death Hussars,
who Were. charged with the execution, of it. His
Majesty has bestowed the Legion of Honour to
the Commandant of it, to Lietitetlnt de .
to Sub-oilicers Werner. and Pomineroit, anti Bri-
gadier Grahouski, who in this ailltir distinguished
themselves.
The inhabitants of the Pt evince of Samogitia.;
are distinguished for their patriotisM ;. they were
free, their country was rich, but their destinies
changed with the fallpf Poland. The better and
finest parts of the country were given by Cathe-
rine to Soubow : the peasants, free as they were,
were compelled to become slaves, The flank -
movement made by the army updn Wilna having
turned this fine province, it will be of the utmost
,
utility to, the army. t$ thousand horses are
on their march to repair the loss of the artillery._
Considerable magazines have been preserved. The
march of the.army from Kowno upon Wilua, and
from Wilna upon Dunabourg . and -INILIt„ has
obliged; the enemy to -abandon the banks of the
Niemen, ,and rendered this river free, by which
..,-
numerous convoys arrive at Kowno.
We have at this Moment
.more than 150,000
quintals of meal, 2,000,000 rations Of biscuit,
600,000 quint is of riee, &c.' The convoys sue-.
coed each: other with rapidity ; the Niemen i 5
covered with boats.
" The Passage of' the Niemen totik plate on the
24th, and the Emperor-entered Wilna on the 28th • -
The Ist army of the West, commanded by the,
Emperor_Alexander, is composed of 9 divisions .
of infantry, and 4of cavalry : driven from post to •
post, it nos,v occupies 'the entrenched 'canap: at
-Orissa, in which the King of Naples, with the
corps of Marshals .the Dukes of Elchingen aria
Reggio, several divisions of the Ist corps, and the
cavalry corps of Counts Nansouty and Montbrun.
keep it. The 2d army, commanded by. Prince'
Bagration, was on' the Ist of July, at Kobren►
where it had collected. The ninth and thirteenth
divisions, under General TormazoW, were still_
farther off. On the first intelligence of ,the pas'
sage of the Niemen, Bragation put himself
iu
motion to march upon Wilna ; be effected bis
junction with Platoff's Cossacks, who were opposite
Grodno. Arrived upon the top of the hie, be Iwo'
ed that the road to Wilna stras shut against him : he,
discovered that the execution of the orders he had
_received would be rash, and cause his ruin, Son-
botnicki, Troboue, Witchnew, Volojinck being
occupied by General Grouchy s, General Baron
Pagol, and the Prince of Eckmubl's corps ; he,
therefore retrograded, and took the, direction cY
Minsk : but, arrived mid-way towards that town,
he learned the Prince of Eckmuhl had entered it,
be again retrograded : from Newig, he marched
upon Slousk, and from thence upon Bolarensi'f
from whence he will have no other resource thaa
that of' passing \the Borysthenes. Thus the tsv°
armies are completely divided and separated, 'tiler/
being between them a distance .of an hundreu.
leagues, Prince Eckmuhl has seized upon tb
e.
strong' place of Boresou, upon the Beresina,'
60,0001 b. of powder,,l6 pieces of hesieging artil
levy; 'and some • hospitals, have fallen into his
power. Considerable magazines Were set on firei
a part was, however, saved.
On the 10th, General Latour Maubonrg
the division of light cavalry, commandtd by .GC;
neral Rosnieke, advanced towards Mer. It
the enemy's rear guard 'at a short distance fr le,
that town. •A very brisk engagement took 019'.
Notwithstanding the inferiorik, of the P l
olish (1:„:-
vision in dumber, it remained master of the fieia,
The General of Cossacks Gregoriow
vas
and 1500 Russians were killed and wounded. (/i7e
.loss, at the utniost, was not more than 500: T.
rolish tight cavalry fought with, the b o-reatest .
ot
trepidity, and it's courage supplied the want
'number. The same day We entered Ater• a ills
On the 13th-, the King of Westphalia. ha
head-quarters at Nisvy.
, co
The Viceroy has arrived at Dockchllsous.
ot
The Bavarians, commanded by General
G St. Cyr, were reviewed,on the 14th; at Wl!'_'.r.;
by the Emperor. Deroy and Wrede's
are very tine. These troops have &arched °
Slouboku. „
general Confederation of Poland, his named
The Diet at Warsaw, being constituted
pil:ll°,ce
Adam Czartorinski for its.. President. This
aacd 80 yeurs, has for 50 years,been
the Diet of POland. The first act of the Met,
het,
to declare the kingdom of Poland 're-establisre,
A dep mit
utation front the confederation wastePci to
seated to his Majesty at Wilna, and sub
f Cor-'
his approbation and protection the Act o
federation. - jam' re'
Td the Act 9f Confederation 1.10 a .
as follows : Mars:halw:/15
plied

Gentlemen Deputies of the Confederation of
roland,-
1 have heard with interest what you have re-
lated to me.

—• •
Poles ! I would have thought and acted like
°11L: like you 1 would have voted in the Assem-
yat Warsaw. Love of the country is the first
41Ity of civilized man.

" In my situation I have many interests to con-
ciliate, any inane duties to perform-. Had I reigned
during the Ist, 2d, or 3d partition of Poland, I
/iv°111(1 have armed all my people to support you.
alruediately that victory enabled me to restore
Y°llr ancient laws to your capital, and a part of
/°lir provinces, I did it, wfthout prolonging a
kar Which would have continued to spill the blood
°I ray subjects.
" I love your nation. For sixteen yearl I have
your soldiers by my side, in the fields of Italy,
ks well as those of Spain.
A" 1 applaud all you have done ; I authorise
`Lie efliuts yovvish to make : I will do every
tiling that depends on me to: second your re-
tolutions.

" If your efforts are unanimous, you may con,
ive the hope of reducing your enemies to ac-
nowlerre,your rights ; ,but in these countries,
le distant and extensive, it is entirely upon the
.4ttanimity Of the efforts of the._ population which
crvers them, that you must found your hopes of
tuccess.

I have held, to you the same language since
Y first appearance in Poland : I must add here,
that I have guaranteed to the Emperor-of Austria
the integrity of his dominions; and that I cannot
lianction any manoeuvre, or any movement, which
kay tend to trouble the peaceable possessittn. of
'llla.t remains to him of the Polish provinces.—
Let Lithuania; Saniogitia,Wetespsk , Polotsk, Mo-
Ail° w, Volhynia, the Ukraine, Podolia, be animated
‘;ith the same spirit which I have seen in Great
Oland, and. Providence will crown with success
le4ir holy cause. lie will recompence that devo-
tk°ll to your country which has rendered you so
,
'terestingi and acquired you so many claims to
mY esteem and protection, upon which you may
depend under every circumstance."
[The Moniteur, of the 29th and 30th, contains
t)thirig farther respecting the armies or the Po-
gsh Confederation.]

FURTHER' EXTRACTS.

/tames of the Alembers of the Deputation from
the General Confederation of Poland :

Messieurs Joseph Wyhieki, Valentine Sobolewski, Senators
Palatines. AleZander Count Beniski, Nuncio of the district
tf Oborneiki.—(Deiartinent of Poinan).
_ - _

Stanislaus Count Soltyk, Nuncio of the district of Szylouriee.
Nepartment of Radom.)

Ignatius Count Stadnieki,N uncio of Koniecic.—(Department
of Radom).
kat-thew Wadzinski, Nuncio of the district of Brzesk.—
(bepartment of Bromberg).

Ladislaus Count Tanio;ski, Nuncio of the district of Lu-
111rtow.—.(1:00partment of Lublin).
Stanislaus Count Alexandrowidz, Nuncio of Losick.—(De-
kit:Lent of Liedlee).
SPEECH OP MONSIEUR THE COVNT PALATINE WY-

BIM', PRESIDENT OF THE DEPUTATION.
" SIRE,

" The Diet of the Duchy of Warsaw re-united
at the approach of your Majesty's puissant armies,
baling bad in view to give force to the opportu-
nities offered them by the localities, that they
blight pot be in any wise deficient, has discerned,
4°lll the first step, that they have rights to re-
Claim, and duties of the most elevated order to
tail. By an unanimous voice, it has constituted'
itself a general- Confederation of Poland ; it has
declared Poland re-established in her rights, and
4,11 the usurpatory and arbitrary acts which would
lm!e destroyed her existence, 'to be annulled and
%no force.
SIRE, —Your Majesty labours for posterity
and for history, as all Europe cannot misunder-
Itand our rights, no more than We can miscon-
!ive our duties. A nation tree and independarit
iroln the earliest ages, we shall not lose our ter-
htory and our independence, neither by a treaty
'le by conquest, but through perfidy and treason.
l'reason never-could constitute a right. We have
lieen bur last King dragged to Petersburg, and
there perish in opprobity, and oar natioi now
I°lll. into pieces and patted amongit princes
against whom she had not made .war, and who had
110 t conqueredher. •
•
Our rights will, therefore,. appear evident ii
the eyes of men and in the eyes of God himself.—
We have a right to declare ourselves Poles—to re-
establish the throne of the Jagellons and Sail
eskis--to seize again on our national .existence—
t° re-assemble our divided members—to arm our-

IQlves for our native country, and to prove, in
'4)rabating for her that we are worthy descendants
of our forefathers. -

Cr
Whatever constitutes our rights constitutes
likewise our duties. Thanks to your Gracious
Majesty, four millions of Poles are now free, and
governed by the Polish laws ; but ,the happiness
Which they enjoy has not, under the existing cir-
eutastances, suffocated the sentiments of duty
exacted by their country, which arc engravers on
their hearts, and are connvanded by Heaven itself.

"Our brethren, forming the greater part of the
Population of Poland, are still curbed under the
oppression of the Russians. We dare to reclaim
t'heir,rigbts, and to present a centre of se-union
for the whole Polish family.

" Could your Majesty disavow or blame us for
"ing done what our duty, as Poles, exacted of
415 ao.ci for having re-assumed our rights I—Yes,

Sire, the Polish country ig proclaimed front-ttis
day ; she exists in equity, but still she. exist in
fact ? duty and justice legitiinatC our resolution,
but will the strengh be on our side ? And God;
has he not siifficiently punished Poland for her di-
vision ; will he perpetuate our misfortunes ; and
shall the Poles, who have nourished the love of
their country, descend into the grave, melancholy
and without hope?—No! you, Sire, have been
raised up by Providence ; its strength is put into
your Majesty's hands, and the existence of our
Duchy is due to_the puissance of your arms !

" The Confederation has deputed us to wait on
you, to submit its act of confederation to your
supreme sanction, and to request your puissant
protection for the kingdom of Poland.

cc Say, Sire: The Kingdom of Poland exists,'
and that decree will to the world be equivalent to
the reality

" We are sixteen millions of Polenders, among
whom there'is.not one Whose blood,
.Whose arm,
whose fortune, is not devoted to youf Majesty.
Every sacrifice will appeal light to us, when it is
to effect the restoration of our our native country
froin the Dwina to the Dniester, from the Borys-
thenes to the Oder. One single word from your
your Majesty will devote to you every arm, every
effort, and every heart. This unprecedent war,
which Russia, notwithstanding the remembrance
of Au' steflitz, of Pultusk, of Eylau, of Friedland,
.notwithstanding the oaths taken at Tilsit and atEr-
futi, has dared to declare, is, we doubt not, Sire, a
decree of Providence, which, touched with the mis-
fortunes of our nation, has resolved to put an end
to them. This second Polish war is scarcely com-
menced, and already we bring our homage to
your Majesty, in the capital of the Jagellons.
'Already are your Majesty's eagles on the Dwina,
and the armies of Russia
.separated, divided, cut
off, wandering-. about, and seek in vain to re-unite
and form themselves. . .

" The interest, of your Majesty's empire re-
quires the re-establishment of Poland, and pro-
bably the hon Our of France is equally interested
in it. If the dismemberment of Poland was the
sign of the declension of the French Monarc4,
may her re-establishment be a proof of the pros-
perity to which your Majesty has elevated France.
The oppressed Poland has turned het' eyes for al-

most three centuries towards France, that great
and generous nation. But fate has reserved this ter-
mination for the head of the fourth Dynasty, Tor
NAPOLEnti the GREAT, before whom the policy of
three centuries Were but a momentary object, and
the space from South to North but a single
point.

We present to your Majesty the Act of Confe-
deration, W.:ich claims the revival and exittence of
Poland. We renew before you,
,in the 'name 'of
all our brethren to preserve the solemn engage-
ment to the very end,. and with the concurrence ,of
ali our minds, of all our means, and, should it'
be needful, of all the blood which runs in our
veins, to carry on the enterprise which we shall
not have formed in vain,. if. your. Majesty will
deign to prevent it."

KONIGSBERG, JULt 9.—The following has been
published here :

" Conformably with an order of his Majesty
the Emperor of the French, the fortifications of
Dantzick art to be considerably augmented with-
in a very short space of time, and eight thou,
sand labourers out of the Prussian territory
have been commanded to work on them without
delay. According to the strict. alliance- which
unites the two Governments of France and Prussia,
it is highly. desirable that this demand be corn-
plied with as far as possible. These labourers will
'be. regularly .Paid every Saturday at
_Dantzick,
for the work of the week past.. They shall re-
ceive from one guilder to one guilder and three
groseliens Prussian currency per day, according
to the nature of the ground and the done.

"In giving the inhaabitants of this city informa-
tion of these dispositions, we invite all those who,
by their situation, have it in tletir power to
fulfil this object, to answer to this call, which
is of great interest, and to announce themselves
in the shortest possible time at the Secretary of
the Municipality's Office, where they will be en-
rolled for the purpose of being. afterwards placed
under the directions of Colonel RICHEMONT,
Engineer in Ohief at Dantzic."

Yesterday the RECORDER made.: report' to the
PRINCE REGENT of the following capital convicts
in Newgate,s. viz. :—Joseph Metcalf, for stealing
in a dwelling-honse ; John Richardson, fora high-
way robbery ;. Catherine Foster, for taking a false
oath to obtain letters_ of administration ; Joseph,
alias Joseph Woolman Thompson, for forgery ;
Thomas Collicott, for ,forgery ;- Mary Best,. for
uttering .forged notes ; James Gofl, for stealing
in a dwelling-house; and Eleanor, alias' Ellen
ChaMbers, for a like offence ; when • Catherine
Foster and Joseph Woolman Thompson were or-
dered for' execution on Wednesday next.

ntts:±MiNsTM MEETING.

Yesterday a Meeting of persons calling them-
selves Friends to ParliamentarY Reform took place
41 Palace Yard, Westminster. The busiztess be-

, .
ing opened with the usual forms— ,
Major CARTWRIGI-17 came forward to propose
certain Resolutions, and "a Petition to riAii.nielit,

on the subject for the consideration of whxh the
Meeting was called. He pr aced his motion with
a speech, in which he recommended to theM two
patriotic Societies which had lately sprung up
with a view to procure a Reform in Parliament,
namely, the Hampden, and the Union Clubs.—
Having described the nature of these Societies,
and their proceedings, at some length,,he advert-
ed to a pamphlet which he had published thirteen-
yeats ago, in ans‘Vet to a publication Sir
James Stewart; and contended that a tax upon ca-
pital, which the Chancellor of the Excliegler had
given them reason to expect, from a hint which
he had thrown out at the close of the last Session
of Parliament, was similar "to the pl_ an recom-

mended by Sir James Stewart, and which he (Ma-
jor C.) had combated. [Here he read. copious
extracts from the arguments.he had' nsed on that
occasion.] He then went on to complain of the
exertions made by those in power to stifle the
voice of the people when raised to assert their
right to-at Reform in Parliatnent, and observed,
that no fewer than 37 persons Were now confined
in Lancaster jail for no other offence, than that
they had met to consider of petitioning Parlia='
merit for a Reform. Ile concluded by moving
certain' Resolutions' against 'a Tax.on Capital. 'as
being-equivalent to confiscation, anti as throwing
-all property into the :in-ids of the Treasury, and
calling for a Parliamentary-RefOrm."
A Mr. thams.secOnded,the Resolutions, which
were then put and carried,
• Major CARTWRIGHT then came forward to pr•'-
pose for the adoption of the Meeting a' Petition to
the House of Commons, 'founded on the Resolu-
tions which they had just agreed to. This Petition
was read .by Mr. Harris; who afterwards offered a
few observations, on the subject. He gave it as
his opinion (tho Ugh in this he differed from the
Major), that the Petition would be Of no use,
and censured the conduct of Lhe ins and the outs,
on .a recent occasion, . when 'they had appeared
content to sacrifice the best interests of the coun-
try to their own ambition.
Mr. MARTII,T. (the Mem!)er for Galway), though
he might.differ from the Meeting generally as to
the means proper to be Otel, was as anxious as
any man could pe to attain the beneficial object
they bad in view. He was friendly to Reform,
if it could be proved to him that it could downy
good; but he could not think that an annual Par-
liament would het in any respect preferable to a
septennial one ; but, on the.contrary, he thought
it would lead to greater evils than were at present
experienced. In the -recent proceedings, he dis-
approved of the conduct both of Lord Castlereagh
and Mr. Canning. If neither could yield to the
other, he thought tbOth g t t•• have given way
to the country. He did not, pprove it the Petition.

Sir T. BURn TT complimented the last speaker
on t'.c man,y manner in which lie had come f(».-
war 1, and lamented that the. Gentlemen of Eng-
lard d d not generally do the sate. Hewas sorry
to say it, bnt the English Gentlemen, instead of
coming forw•ird t's they ought, on au occasion like
the present, seemed content to sit at home, .and have
their estates confiscated undertheir very noses, ra-
ther than give the people an opportunity of resuming
their digni'yby asserting their rights and liberties.
Formerly the Gentlemen of England would have
acted in a different manner; formerly they would
have held themselves ready to head, to 'conduct,
and to direct the people, and, if necessary, -to
sacrifice and-shed their blood in the cause. A Par-
liamentary Reform, he was satisfied, would prove
highly beneficial to the country, as if it did not
make men more „honest, it would make knavery
more likely to be detertq-and punished . To shorten
the function of Parliaments was, in his opinion,
very desirable. If this, were done, those Who-had
seats in Parliament would be obliged freivently
to give an account of their conduct, to their con
Stituents ; and -he could -not help observing, in
the Words of -a very homely proverb, that ," Short
accounts make 'lung friends." It would, 'more-
over, in a great degree,. prevent that beastly,
infamous,, and corrupt connection, which at
present existed between Members-of Parliament
and the Treasury—he would not speak of Minis-
ters, as it appeared that they were but straws float-
ing down the stream, without power to direct its
course. The system was such, that whatever
men appeared in Parliament as Ministers, they
Were to be attended to as oracles-1-and-any mea-
sures that they might propose were to be carried.
-Yet those who have thus made themselves
the tools of the overbearing oligarchy, called.
themselves the guardians of the public purse.
—They were the keepers of the public purse !
Ile thought they ought rather to be called the cut
purses of the public. When it was .seen that the
guardians of the public purse held it constantly.
open for any thief to put his hand in, he thought
it would be felt that it Was much better it should
have no guardians at all. Whoever were Ministers
now, they were to be looked up to as capable of
ably guiding the destinies of the State at a crisis
momentous like the present, and they might say
to the people, as Joseph said to the Egyptians,
" We have this day bought out and your lands."
There was however- this difference between the
two cases. In former times, when those on the
land were bought with the land, they were fed by
the purchaser ; but now the bread was taken from,
their mouths by the
,purchaser, and the people
were bought with their own money. lie con-
cluded by telling the multitude, that had not ,his
colleague- (Lord CochraneLbeen confined to his
bed, by indiSposition, he would have seconded the
motion on the state of the nation, which he (Sir
Francis) had brought forward on the last day. of
the Session ; and had not that indisposition con-
tinued, he (Lord C.) would have had the• honour
of meeting them that day. p.foke retiring, he
expressed his hope that this Meeting would serve
as -an example. to the Country to .persevere in as-
serting their rights ; and 'when • that was unani-
mously done, the Borougb-morq-,Tering faction
must, like the Devil, tremble and obey. ; ,
This speech was Loudly applauded, the Pe-
• titiow.was agreed to, and the Meeting broke up.