The Sun.
London, England, 1819-02-25 00:00:00

THE HON. WILLIAM WINDHAM QUIN.

On the Order of the Day being read, that Wind-
ham Quin, Esq. do attend in his place,
Sir goßwr w4LsoN, expressing his satisfae-
don that be now .saw the Hon. Member (Air.
Quin) in his place, called the attention of the
House to the petition of Thomas William Grady,
complaining of the conduct of the Hon. Gentle-
man (Mr. Quin). Sir Robert felt it P. pain-
ful and a distressing situation to stand forward
against any Member of that House; a but, how-
ever unpleasant it might be, be had duty to dis-
charge to the Public, and that duty he now, With
leave of the House, would resume. He assured
the Hon, Member (Mr. Quin) that 'be had allowed
no private communication on the subject, so as
in any manner to prejudice him on the occasion.
Inaccurate reports bad been eircidated; 'so as to
mislead -some Honourable Members and the
Public, but they were not Sanctioned by
him. Sir Rohert professed himself only the
mere vehicle of accusation, without being a
party io it. When be heard the subject of
complaint, lie found it iircumbent upon him, as a
Member of Pailiament, to stand for•Wiird in vindi-
cation of the honour of the 'llonie; and for that
reason, and that reason alone, be had consented •
to present the Petition. In detailing the Parti-
culars of the petition, Sir Itubeit stated. that the -I
Hon. Member (Mr. Quin), in the month of July
last, had been appointed, by the Lord Lieutenant
of Ireland, to the itisportuut office Of Custos
..
toloruni of Limerick ; that in consequence of this
appointment, the office of Clerk of tho Peace be-
came vacant', being in the gitt and control of the:
lion. Member ; that there ifaa no objection to
the appointment
of the Petitioner, Thomas Tier-
ney Grady, provided he would make an allowance
of.2ool..a.year for :Mr. Orlin's disposal ; that on
Grady's 'demurring on the businesi, Mr. Quin told
a 'Mr. l'ereau, who was requested to inquire into
the affair, that he was obliged' to give the office
Mr, WillArtiSWilb, held-it dui Mt -Quiti!3

pleasure; that not only Was the -allowance of
2001, a year part of the condition of the appoint.
ntent, but there was an additional engagement,
that the said Clerk should support the political or
electioneering interest of Mr. Quin ; that Mr. Pe-
real' thought such a proposition totally illegal and
inadmissible; that Mr'. Quia, in contradiction of
this,,law. authority, said,' that as the appoint-
ment, to' the offfeelay'svith him, he was deter-
ruined.,to have a OK pro quo; that a minute
of the conversation was_ drawn up, and'shoWn to
the Hon. Member. (Mr. Quin), who confessed
that it was perfsctly correct) that Mr. Smith
was requested to..sign the said minute, but al.
theugh he, objected io give it his signature,
he said that he would always be read Wy, hen
called .. upon, to.. witness its'inthentieit'y ; 'and
that: the Petitioner,' 'corroborated Several'
other testimonies,:•waiehle and willing to sub,stantiatertbe, whole at the bar of 'the House,
Sir. Robert had ,also 'te inform the Hoise, that a
copy of the minutewat transmitted to the ',kn.'
Member.(Mr. Quin) and legal notice was served
upon Mr. Smith, that ,he shOuld be careful not
to destroy the minute of the conversation. lie
had also to mention, that a Gentleinan_ of the
Law had waited upon Mr. Quin, and exposed
his indiscretioniay assuring hint that his condact
was altogether illegal. A curious memorandum
was afterwards transmitted from Mr. dated
Limerick, stating' in substance—.‘ That Mr.'
Grady or Mr. Smith may vote as he pleased ; and
that it he vote even against me, I'll not deprive
him of his situation 1" This change of disposi-
tion on the part of Mr. Quin, it was insinuated,
arose from the fears of a public inquiry. His
legal agent, Mr. Cabot, who possessed more
wisdom and discretion than his cliem, had ad-
vised the Hon. Gentleman to lower his ',tie and
to act with greater caution, lest the consequeices
might be disagreeable. Sir Robert, after several
more observations, moved, That the Petition
against Mr,. Quin be received. The Act on
which the complaint of the Petition was touuded,
was that of the Ist of William and Mary relative
to bribery and corruption. The complain' or the
Petition does not affect in any degree the last
Election.

On the question being put, that the Petition be
received,
Mr. WINDHAM QUIN rose to vindicate his
conduct. He hoped for the indulgence 'of the
House while called upon to perform .tl►ia in►-
portant duty to himself. There were few per-
sons who had been in a more irksome situation ;
and although he felt considerable pain and ern,
barrassment, he had no doubt but that he would
acquit himself to the entire satisfaction of the
House and of the Public. 'l•he Hon. Mover was
right in stating that the merits of•the Petition dill
not affect the last Election. This was the chief
truth on the part of tl►e Petitioner. But what:.
ever Gentlemen might have been erroneously
taugh to expect ft (Will the gross calumnies of the
Petitioner an his party, so far was lie (Mr.
from shunning investigation, !bat he had
looked forward to this.day with the greatest anxiety,
folly persuaded that lie was perfectly able to repel
every thing which came in the shape of accusa-
tion against him. He took this opport►►nity of
declaring--and he did so upon his honour—that
the grounds of the charges advaoced against hint
were grossly false and malicious —(Loud cheer-
ing )-•The Hon. Men►b:r begged the indoltzence
ot the House, while he gave them his (Mr. Qum's)
plain statement. It was true, that he had re-
moved Mr. Grady from the office, and substituted
another Gentleman who was better entithd to it.
Although he (Mr. Quin) had the sole and
uncon-
ttolled appointment, yet he t hould have thought
himself not warranted to have removed an old
servant of the public. Instead, however, of be-
ing an old servant of the public, Mr. Grady hail
only enjoyed the office three yeors, that is, since
his. coming of age, being now in his twenty.third
year—although he had un►warra►►tably held the
office from the time !►e was eight years old, and
discharged its duties by (felny !—(Hear !)
And even in the advanced period ot Mr. Grady's
life—his 23t1 year—he !►ud not discharged
the duties personally, hut by deputy, treating.
it as a sinecure !—(Hear, hear, hear !)—When
the Petitioner found that he was no longer to be
employed in his sinecure office, lie earnestly
suli-
cite_d some contingent maintenance, promising to
support Mr. -Quin's interest ; and stated, that
should the request not he complied with, he would
be totally rained, and consequently must blow out
his brains I Feeling for his unhappy situation, the
Hon. Member (Mr. Quin) was anxious to make
some contingent provision for him from the office.
Having consulted a legal adviser, he found be w•as
empowered to make such a provision, and therefore
had adopted an arrangement in his favour. But
when he (Mr. Quin) communicated to Mr. Grady
the amount of his annuity, namely, 2001., lie in-
dignantly remarked...," What, two hundred a
year only No, no ! give me three hundred a
year, and then I'll be satisfied ?"—(Hear, hear,
hear !)—But although the Petitioner had said that
lie had.refused ,this annuity in his favour, yet he
was informed by his friends that he was satisfied.
lVhen be was about to return to Ireland, he re,
ceived a letter from Mr. Carew Smith, a friend
of the 'Petitioner, begging that he wot►ltl
permit him to wait upon him (Mr. Quits) while
passing through Dublin. Notwitiistotiding he
gave no at►swer, consequently no encouragement
towards an interview, the said Mr.. Carew smith
did rersevere in.his resolution of calling upon hint
While in Dublin, and ►+.•anted to discuss the merits•
ot the minute of conversation already mentioned.
—Wishing to avoid any communication with the
parties, -Mr. Carew Smith was not at that lime
gratified in his desire. But when he (sir. Qtrin)

wss insulted by the transmission of a copy of the
"ninety of c.:nversatioo, together with a copy of
Co. mentor-amino, IlielVioned by the Hon Mover,
it• (Mr Qoio) took the trouble of going himself
to Nit- Sintit. and, in the presence of a third
person, told him, that in the exercise of his po-
litical infl.tence, Mr. Grady—so far as regarded
bins (Mr. Quin)—was free as air ! He might act
proper—tor lie (Mr. Quin) wag re-
soli ed to hold no compact with him or any of his
pmltst —(Hear, heat !)—He also added, in the
prrsenre of a third prison., that he (Mr. Quin)
ilf`t!it•tni its refusing every proffer of political ser-
vic,-s, for be was determined not to make
any hat gain whatever with him.—(Lond cheer-
ioL; )—lt these were indications of the fear
of Parliamentary Inquiry, he was at a loss to
htlow the true meaning of what was gene-
rally understood to he moral rectitude,—(Hear!)
—fie had treated every offer of the Petitioner
with the scorn which they merited—(Loud cheer-
inA—But to prove that he had conducted him-
self on principles of benevolence towards the l'es
titioner, he begged to read a letter from him, in
which letter he thanked him in pretty strong, if
not sincere terms. The letter was in substance
as follows :—" Dear Sir,—Be pleased to accept
my warmest thanks for your very handsome offer.
Accept not only my own thanks, but, after
consulting my. cousin, Mr. Carew Smith, be
pleased also to accept his dumb for your gene-
rosity !" and concluded with—" I ant, dear Sir,
yours always most respectfully, Thomas William
Grady !"—(Loud cheering.)—This letter was an
acknowledgment of the annuity. Such a docu-
ment—the original of which he now held in his
hand, did not prove that he deserveti the °blo-
t-ly which bad been attempted to be cast on his
character.—(Hear, hear, hear !)—But the House
would he pleased to mark the change when the
parties became dissatisfied, and were about to corn-
meore hostility. He (Mr. WO had been nearly
inundated with threatening letters of various de-
scriptions,—(Hear, bear, hear !)—The father of
the Petitioner lives generally at Boulogne. Why
be has beet, obliged to leave his native country,
it "as Deedless to learn From that pet son
he (Mr. Quin) received a letter, dated the
ID,h of October, being the first of a series
eat letters of a threatening description.—(Hear,
bear, hear !)—ln one of these charming epi,tles,
111 r. Quin was told in subst.ince—" It may
be important for you (Mr. Quin) to know, that
we have the aid and countenance of a leading
Member of Opposition, who can furnish us with
precedents and extracts from the .Fournals of the
House of Commons, to form our guidance in the
tr:o•k which we may deem it expedient to take. I

despise any threats as mach as you do—nor do I
insinnate any at this moment. But I advise you
to restore my son immediately to his office !
(Hear, hear !)—Your answer, or your no an-
swer, on or before the sth of November next,
will determine us on the plan to be pursued. If
you releain silent, we shall consider it as a refusal,
and proceed accordiegly !"—(Loud cheering.)—
In q letter to s lending Member of Opposi-
tion, who, I understand, passed a week with the
father of. the Petitioner at Boologne, he compares
me to .‘ Sin end Death !" The copy of this let-
ter he has also sent ; but as it would afford little
eotertainment to the House, he declined reading
it, or even any extracts from it.
Sir ItoevaT IVlLsors significantly interrupted
the Hon. Member by shortly observing—" I am
glad that the Hon. Member thus alluded to was
rot myself."
Mr. 1171 DH AM QUIN resumed his extracts from
the letter :—" When you gave the memorandum,
you delivered to us your political death-warrant.
—(Hear, hear, hear !)—The Member of Opposi-
tion, who has come over on a visit to me, has as-
s,,red me of the ready concurrence of all the
11.1eml;ers of Opposition in our favour ; and to the
Opposition Members you have made yourself par-
ticuistly obnoxious !"—(Hear, hear!)—With re-
gaud to having rendered himself particularly oh-
nosinos to the Opposition Members, he believed
the assertion as false as the threats of the Peti-
tioner's father and his adherents were contempti-
ble and impotent. Independent of political par-
t ies, there were no Gentlemen whom he knew
that be wnold sooner have to form a Committee
to try his cause. He would as soon have a Jury
of Gentlemen from the Opposition, as any July •
on earth. They were men of character, aad in-
dependently of party prejudices, were as coospi-
coolis for honour, intercity. and purity of prin-
ciple, as any de-ctiption of men that could be
mentioned.—(Very loud cheering )—The Bon-
logne Correspondent, namely, the father of the
Petitioner, in the plenitude of his condescension,
was pleased to afford some respite from the ful-
minations which were prepared to frighten him
(Mr. Quin) from his propriety ! The time for
the answer was enlarged from the sth of No-
vember to the sth of December ! Mr. Quin, feel-
jog the solidity of his position, and the correct.
;less of his conduct, exclaimed, I am not afraid
of any Parliamentary Inquiry. To all the threats
and denunciations of the Petitioner and his
friends, I bttt utmost defiance. My character
5y.11(15 oti other grounds, and cannot be Hiner'
by Lire calumuies ,Ibich hare been so industriously
jo,Tagated. Even when have defeated my ad-
versaries,, 1 cannot claim any triumph or victory.—
For contemptible indeed must be the cause of that.
loan, who can claim a victory over a person who
has neither truth, honour, nor patriotism. Suet'
are my sentiments, Mr. Speaker, and to the judg-
ment of this Honourable House do I commit my-
self.—(Lone and bond cheering.)—Mr. Quin, af-
ter hi, mattly and animated vindication, immedi-
ately retired.

Sir RoasaT SirmsoN assurer, the House that he
never heard any thing of the parties till about a
week hetore he presented the Petition. He had
come forward withont the least personal prejudice
to the Hon. Member. The Petition having been
riTeirrd, and ordervd to lie on the table, he would
now toove tot a Committee of Inquiry into the
grounds or merits of the Petition, and to report
hereon, Notwithstanding such motion, he would
nut atretnro to remove the strong impression
,khich lion. Member's speech bad made on
.hr

)ttE spoke tor the Inghiry.

Mr vNr4,' in justice to Ihr liononr of the
House, was clearly of opinion tl►at ail Inquiry

ought to be instituted. If the allegations were
true, they formed a breach of privilege, and called
for the interposition of the (louse; if fAlse, it
would appear as one of the tuna wicked and
abominable conspiracies ever heard of. He pro-
posed an Amendutrnt, that the nma►tter of the Pe-
tition be heard at the bar of the House.
Sir R. WILSON readily acquiesced to this Amend-
ment, which, with leave of the Hon. Member, be
would leave as the motion, withdrawing the ori-
ginal one which he had proposed. He concluded
by seconding Mr. Wynn's Amendment, which
now stood as the motion.

Lord CASTLEREAGH thought, that as the ca-
lumnious and threatening letters tem! received a
complete refutation front the Hon. Member's
able speech, he saw no reason for troubling the
House any more on the subject. It was evident
that there had been no grounds for the charges ;
and he never heard a case better made out than
that by the lion. Member who had just retired.
!Ps Lordship, however, would not oppose the
motion.
Mr. WYNN improved his motion, by adding,
that the matter of the Petition be heard at the bar
of the House on Monday fortnight.
A conversation now ensued on the propriety of
summoning all the parties concerned to the Bar
of the House. The speakers were—Mr. Courtenay,
Mr. Wynn, Mr. C. Hutchhason, Lord Caitle-
reagh,, Sir John Newport, Mr. Tierney, Mr.
Brougham, &c. &c. when the parties w ere ordered
to appear at the Bar to answer any questions put
to them.
Mr. WYNN afterwards suggested, that the in-
quiry, in justice to the honour of the House, ()tight
to he as speedily as possible. He therefore pro-
posed Monday se'nnight.
The letter having been read,
Mr. W. QUIN verified having received it, though
there was no direction upon it.
Mr CounTsNAY, whatever be might think of
the offence which the letter constituted, wished
at present to take no further step than to secure
Mr. Grady's attendance, that he might hereafter
be forthcoming when wanted. lie therefore
moved, that Mr. Grady be summoned to attend
at the Bar of that House.
The SPEAKER stated, that the regular course
would he for tine House in the first place to decide
whether the letter was a breach of the privileges
or not. It it were found to be a breach of privi-
lege, then an order for the attendance of the
writer might be moved fur.
After a desultory conversation between Mr.
Courtenay, Sir J. Newport, Mr. Bathurst, Lord
Castlereagh, and Mr. Quin, who stated that
be had not the least wish of inflicting punishment,
but that his only object was to clear himself,
Mr. ‘VYNN moved, that it be tecorded'on the
Journals of the House, that " the writing and
sending of the said letter to the Hon. Member
was a high breach of the privileges of the House."
The motion was agreed to, neminecontrodicente,
after a few observations from Mr. Baouunam.
Mr. COURTENAY then moved, that Thomas
Grady do forthwith attend this House, which was
also agreed to.
Mr. Cotters:44v, understanding that Mr. Grady
was in attendance, moved that he be called in.—
Agreed to.
Air. Grady having been introduced at the Bar,
The SPEAKER desired hint to look at the letter,
and to say whether it was his hand-writing.
Mr. GRADY took the letter, but said, that for
15 years he had been unable to read any baud-
writing by candle light.
A light was theft handed to Mr. Grady, and
the SPEAKER repeated his question.
Mr. GRADY could not make out the hand-writ-
ing, and had no recollection of having sent that
letter to the Hon. Member.
The Witness having then been ordered to with-
draw,
Mt-. BAsees suggested the propriety'of having
the letter read aloud to him, as, he could not read
it himself, that from its contents he tnight judge
whether it was his own.
Mr. MARTIN did not see how hearing a letter
read could enable Mr. Grady to ascertain whether
it was his hand-writing.
Mr. GRADY was then recalled, and the SPEAKER
directed hint to attend while the letter should be
read to him.
The letter having been read 5100 d,
The SPEAKER asked Mr. Grady whether he now
could state positively that he was or was not its
author ?

Mr. GRADY replied, that he had privately Ivrit-
ten about twenty sheets of speculative opinions
upon the subject, but had not embodied them into
any letter or publication. He bad never sent
that letter to Mr. W. Quin.
The SPEAKER desired him to siiy, ‘vhether he
had or not written the letter which had been
read.

Mr. GRADY did not recollect writing any thing
in the shape of that letter. He might have writ-
ten something of that character, but had never
sent or published it, or shown it to any indi-

The SPBAKER understood him to say, that be
could not deny having written something of the
character of the letter, though not in the terms of

the present.
Mr. GRADY—Or amounting to a letter address-
ed, or to be addressed to Mr. %V. Quin ; ur in the
shape of any letter.
The SPEAKER—Does the witness mean to say
that he has neither sent, nor authorised to be sent,
th.e letter which has been read ?
Mr. GRADY had never written any thing in the
shape of that letter. •
The witness was then ordered to withdraw.
Lord CASTLEREAGH thought, that after what bad
just passed, there was no other course to pursue
than to order Mr. Grady to be taken into the cus-
.tody of the Serjeant at /A tins, till a more favour-
able state of light should enable him to decide as
to the identity of his hand-writing, unless his
Him. Friend (Mr. W. Quin), who had received
111,111 y letters ftom Mr. Grady, should be able to
settle the question.
Mr. W. Quint repeated that he had no wish to
hying down any punishment uilton Mr. Grady, but
'hat the letter which be had received was in his
hatid-writing. •
!And CASTLERILAGH rose to move that Mt. Grady

be committed to the custody of the Serjeant at
Arms, as his hand-writing had been proved.
The SPEAKKH stated, that it was necessary first
to record that Mr. Grady had Written and sent the
said letter.

Mr. BROUGHAM thought that the Breach of
Privilege had been completely made out.
After a few words from Mr. Courtenay, Mr.
Wynn, and Mr. Alderman Wood, who contend-
ed that the sending of the letter had not been
proved, whilst Mr. Bathurst maintained that its
having been received was sufficient proof, the
suggestion of the Speaker was adopted, and it was
ordered to be recorded on the Journals of the
House, " That Thomas Grady, in having writ-
ten and sent the said letter, had been guilty of a
high Breach of Privilege."
Mr. BANKes then moved, tbat 'for the said of-
fence Thomas Grady be committed to his Majes-
ty's Gaol of Newgate.
The Motion was agreed to, and the SPEAKER
directed to issue his warrant accordingly.
Sir R. WILSON then moved, that Thos. Goold,
Esq. Daniel Gavin, Esq. Richard Smith, Esq.
"I•ho:nas Mansell, Esq. David Roche, Esq. and
Thomas Wm. Grady, Esq. be directed to attend
the House with certain papers relative to the
case, on Monday se'nnight.—Agreed to.
Lord CASTLEREAGH was understood to postpone
his Motion which stood for to-morrow, respecting
State Prisons, to Monday next.
Mr. HOWORTH was also understood to postpone
the motion respecting India Affairs, which stood
for to-morrow, till Tuesday fortnight.

General HART moved for an Account of the
Revenue produced by Small Stills, holding less
than one hundred gallons, in Ireland.—Agreed to.
On Mr Alderman WooD's motion, the Minutes
of rite evidence taken this day before the House,
on the case of Mr. Grady, were ordered to be
printed, after a short conversation between Mr.
Wynn, Mr. P. Moore, Sir Robert Wilson, and
Mr. Hutchinson, who considered the case a most
extraordinary and hard one, and had given 110 vote
for the commitment of Mr. Grady.—Adjourned.
[The llousE of Lonos did not sit yesterday.]