The Sun.
London, England, 1819-12-11 00:00:00

toured to look up as the defenders of the popular
rights. Mr. Fox and .Mr. Sheridan had distill-
t4iiis,hed themselves by-declaring that the best way
to support (hose rights was to vindicate the pri-
vileges of the Commons. In the present case it
wag not merely the character, but the existence
of the House, which demanded to be vindicated.

The language of the pamphlet was not so much
that of violent abuse as of direct threat. It was

an exhortation to those in whom the pl,ysical
power certainly resided, to use it for the destruc-
tion of the Commons. In order to justify the
course which he meant to pursue, the House
would probably expect that he should read a few
passages trom the pamphlet, in order to show its.
nar,►re. It contained a good deal of argument

on the subject of Parliamentary Reform, and com-
plained that a Noble Lord (Lot d Erskine) had
abandoned some of the opinions which he had
entertained.—lt thin proceeded in the
following manner •--
" ‘Vh-at prevents the people from walking down
to the Muse and pulling, out the Members by
the ears, locking up their doors, and flinging the
key inrO the Thames ? .1s it any majesty which
hedges in the Metabers of that assembly ? Do we
love them Not at have an instinctive
horror and disgust at. the very abstract idea of a
borooghroonger ? Do we respect them. Not in the
least. Do we regard theta as endowed with any su-
perior qualities ? On the contrary, indivicioallyt here
is scarcely a poorer creature than your mere Mem-
ber of Parliament ; though in his_ corporate capa-
city the earth furnishes not so absolute a bully.
Their true practical proteciors then, the real eiV
dent anti-Reformers, are to be found at the Horse
Guards, and the Knightsbridge barracks : as long
as the Ho•,sr of Commons majorities are backed
by the regimental muster-roll, so long May those
who have got the tax•power keep it, and hang
those who resio."

Let into express the wild notions which they
Might entertain in langois4e as cogent as they
could command, but lee them not incite the phy-
Sledl lion er of do- people to effect any change
which they aiight thiok desirable. Such a course
Wa's not i.ei ex:)ression Of an Opinion, it was hold-
iug out directly to the people, that by the exer-
tion of force alone they cot;id hope to obtain their
'object. 'flie pamphlet stated in express terms,
that " nothing but brute force, or the pressing
fear of it, would Reform Parliament." Could it
be contended that it was possible so to construe
this passage as to iimpari to it any other meaning
than a direct encouragement to the use of physi-
cal force? Had he seen nothing else than that
very expression in the pamphlet, be should still
have said that the House would not do its duty if
it suffered it to go unnoticed. In what situation
woold the House be placed if this pamphlet were
visited with no mark of its.reprobation ? Should
any of its Members live to see the practical effects
of the advice so given, and the scenes of confu-
sion and horror to which it would lead, what could
they say in favour of the House to the deluded
wretches witt might be assailing its existence, for
not having, in the very first place, shown them
that it possessed the power of controlling the ex-
pression of mischievous sentiments like those con-
tained in the present publication—selititnews cal-
culated to mislead indi-viduals, and if ,14,incd
acted upon, to effect the destruction of the Con-
stitution of the country ? Might not the offenders
say—" You yourselves have contributed to .mis-
lead us—you pour out your vengeanc.: upon our
heads, and you have taken no notice of the per-
sons by the delivery of whose sen!imenis we have
been made what we are ?" It was evident that
this pamphlet, whatever might be its author, was
the production of an individual holding no mean
rank in life, and who, to the advantages of edit-
cation, added the possession of ~onsiderable ta-
lents. While the House was legislating to re-
press and punish the writers of two-penny and
three-penny publications, should it pass with-
out notice such a work as the present, because
its author moved in the higher classes of so-
ciety ?—(Hear, hear, hear !)—He did not con-
ceive that it would be the duty of the House so
to act. Should it take no notice of the pamphlet;
it would become liable to every kind of misre-
presentation and abuse. Having once noticed it,
the House must proceed to take, other steps to
give effect to its interference. It appeared to
him that it would he proper to act with the most
cautious deliberation, and not under the opera-
tion of any feeling of the moment which might
he supposed to influence the • decision or the
House. The course which he should propose
would be, to call to the bar of the House the per-
son whose name was at the pamphlet, its it was
possible that the House might thus come to the
knowledge of the real offender. He should never
he willing to bring a printer or publisher to
punishment, if the author could be reached. His
motion should therefore be, that Robert Stodart
be ordered to attentlat the Bar of the House. In
souse cases the House bad crime to a previous
-solution .of a particular kind. In others, it had
ordered the parties to attend before any resolu-
tion had been adopted. He should prefer the
latter course, as he thought it would be more pro-
per than calling a person to the Bar and asking
him questions after the House had already decided
on the nature of the case. He should now deliver
in the pamphlet,• anal he trusted that the House
woiird believe that he was actuated by no other
feeling than that it-should take such notice of this
publication as would be most consistent with its
dignity, a course in which it would be supported
by the good sense of the country.
The pamphlet having been delivered in, and the
passages alluded to read aloud by the Clerk of the
House,

COURTENAY moved, that Robert Stodart
he ordered to attend at the Bar of the House on
Monday next.
Sir F. BURDETT conceived that the House was
placed in a very awkward situation, by an at-
tempt like the present to exert privileges con-
trary to the general feeling of the country. It
was but a few nights since the House had refused
an inquiry caller} for by the whole Nation, after
stating its incapacity to exercise its usual inqui=
sitorial functions; yet it was now about to turn
itself into a Court of Justice, and to decide on its
own case ! Would not this appear extraordinary,
after it had su lately declared that it was not cal-
cuhtted even to illitaitUte an inquiry on a subiect