The Sun.
London, England, 1820-01-29 00:00:00

UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.

MR. EDITOR-As the question of Univerial
Suffrage appears. stiff to occupy a considerable
portion of the Public attention, I will briefly sub-
mit to the consideration of your Readers, a few
remarks, which they will he kind enough to pro-
mulgate, if they are found at all applicable to the
subject. One of the chief arguments with the
Reformers in favour of Universal Suffrage and
Annual Parß.lments, is the pretended existence of
such right in the earlier ages of.the British Legis.

lature. I shall ►►ot attempt to refute this ergo.

meat on the ground of its being inferred from

only a pretended (act, (Or tht has been done so
ably by Gentlemen in the ilonse of Commons,

a
that it were a waste of time to revert to it) but
I would observe, with all the rev erentiai fondness
for the, lbstitutions of ouranceitote that the Re-

formers can possibly have, that o❑ account of the
very great d, predation of mOney which has taken
place since the reign of 11ENRY VI. when the right
of voting was restricted to a lorry shilling free-
hold, it, is evident, that our aucestot's,.in; fixing
what was then by no means an inconsiderate pro.

perry, compared with its present value, never in-
tended's° great an.extension of the Right of Vot-
ing as has since taken- place, and consequendy,
that the returns are now made by a rower de-
scription of persons than was intended by the
Statute Law. Upon the principle by which the
framers of this Law may be supposed to have
been actuated, we have made a much more rapid
stride towartls Universal Suffrage than they in
their wisdom desired or contemplated. I can
really see nothing in the House of Commons, as
it is now constituted, which seriously deserves
the ill will of the Reformers, but, if they, must
have Universal Suffrage, let them begin by effect-
ing a Reform in the E'ectors who return the
Members, and are therefore 'responsible for those
Legislative barriers to Universal Suffrage, which,.
say the Reformers, would not exist, if the House
of Commons were composed of the Representatives
of the People. If we take it for granted, that
this House is less popular titan it ought to be,
and attribute that circumstance to the bribery of
'the Electors, who are now forty shilling free-
holders, and therefore more susceptible of a bribe
than the same class of persons two centuries ago,
what would be the natural consequence of extend-
ing the Right of Voting to pourer_ persons I If
any of the Members of Parliament are corrupt
now, because_they obtain their seats by bribery,
they would then be. nearly all so from the faci-
lity which every designing man would have

in purchaing Vote; at a low rate from time
poor or the disaffected. What is true in the

abstract, is frequently true in practice, and the
inference here .drawn is• fully warranted by
the experience of ages, and the most common
observation of the springs by which mankind are
influenced. As to the Vies, ion of Annual Par•
liaments, which appears to he another darling
theme with the Reformers, I think every ar-
gument in their favour may be refired by plain
fact alone. Gentlemen who know nothing more
of the duties of a Member of Parliament than his
bare speeches or voting, are not at all aware,
►hat experience and practice are necessary in-our
Representatives, for the discharge of their pledge
to the Public; but if the labours of the Commit-
tees above- stairs were once fairly stated, I think
it would be admitted, that an Annual Parliament-
man could not he competent to the discharge of
his official duties. Something more is wanting
in a Member of 'Parliament than the m re faculty
of speech, or the privilege of voting. The men
of business in the Hone of Contmot►s are not the
BROUGHAMS, &c. &c. who make a nightly display of
oratory for the edification of the Gallery, but the
hard working Members of the Commit tees, whose
domestic hours are constantly invaded by the calls
of an imperative nature which their public duties
make upot► them. It Annual Parliamet►ts were
to he introduced, we should still have Tory elo-
quence and Whiggish patriotism, with long
Speeches on both sides of the House, and abun-
dance of party vehemence. The ardour of true
or false patriotism, unfettered by the duties of
experience, or the cooling influence of time, would
make all the Members anxious to be leaders—
. they would all desire to bo known and celebrated
for their eloquence ; and the doll but important
office of the Committee-man would be despised.
Every one would_ be praying to Jupiter to help
hint, but not a soul of them would put his shook
der to the wheel, and help the machine from tl►e
slough by which its progress might be impeded.
It any thing is wanting to illustrate this moll,
and to prove the superiority of a Septennial Par-
liament-man over an Annual one, we may refer to
the celebrated Reports of the Bank awl Bullion
Committevs, by the Peers,. who being Members
for lite, are able, as shewn in these two instances,
to give more satisfaction to the Public, than the
Members of the House of Commons. This ob-
servation ought not to he considered as offensive by
the' latter, as it is ❑ot made for the purpose of
charging them with general want of talent, but to
demonstrate the advantage which a Member of
experience must certainly pw_sets over tbe Mem-
ber of a few months' standing. -

1 Ala, 6:r, your oliedieuL Servant,

G. M.


COUUT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday R .specia: Court was Ireld, which was

'numerously arteuded.

vote for the lesser rather than the greater gum
it came to the cote.

Messrs. Waithman, Chirk, Jacks, Hurcombe,
Blakesley, and Hick, spoke to the question ; after
which the amendment was adopted without a
division.

DEATH 01."I'HE DUKE OF KENT.
The letter to the Lord Mayor, from Lord Side
rnteole, upon the subject of the death of die Duke
of Kent, having been read, ROBBERY AT THE ADMIRALTY.
Mr. l'Avut.t. rose, to move a Resolution for the Bow-STREET.—William Giles and John Somer=
adoption of the Cutot. He raid, that however ford, the two men charged with stealing a great
. incompetent he might be to address the Court quantity of journals, log-books, tend other official
upon the melancholy occasion, he should have documents trout the Admiralty, underwent a
found much greater' diffienliy, if The subject on final examination yesterday at this Office, before
which he was about to speak required any embel- Rieueen I3lttsltl, Eq. the presiding Magis-
lishment from a flatterer. But a simple detail of trate.
the actions of the late Duke of Kent was all that The Solicitors of the Admiralty and Mr. Fin-
vt as necesseiv to establish his claim to the artful- layson, one of the principal Clerks, were present
ratio,' of his set vivor.„ It was well known that on the pert of the prosecution ; and Mr. Helmer
he was not more illustrious for his rank and titles attended for the prisoner Somerford, who has
ie soetetv; than be was ennobled by acts of puddle been employed as a Messenger in the Admiralty
and private chat it v. The conduct of his Royal upwards of 20 years.
lliehnes. in public companies was such us to in Front the et idence of a Number of cheese and
snire universal respect ; and it was trot lot-t 4 since' hotter d.-alers, it appeared that the prisoners bare
the City had art opportunity of hearing him des been carrying on an extensive business in this
ellre, at one of their etorttaitinients, that he way for a period of nearly two yeate.- Among
should Its ver do any thing to disgrace the name of others was a Mr. Cooper, of Mat ket-streer,
the House of Brunswick, nor almndon One of the s Jainees, who deposed that he had frequently
constitutional principles upon which that Howie • bought old log-books and journals of the prisoner
was seated upon tire Throne. E%cty corner of Somerford ; and that at the present moment he
the metropolis witnessed the exertions of this gre it had more than three cwt, by him. Others had
putsonage, whose efforts for the education of the purchased them of Giles ; and its some cases
poor and the eiteulatiou of the Holy Scriptures women bad been employed to dispose of them.
had been unceasing. The W°ll4.Y Mrmb" then T
stare he witnesses were asked by the M4gistrete,
d tile 11111Ilbcr of .ocieties of which his Royal
whether they were aware of the naiure of these
Highness was patron, and otter hav
",," documents when they perclia,ed them ?—They re-
those "P" the
. serious 138 -1'1918'11"i:1)y plied, that they were aware from the general sub-
of the Cowl to the situation of the Duchess, who
pers, bur the pi isoners alweys spoke of them as
had, in coujonction with her brother, Prince Leo-
papers which had been•exami'ned and done with ;
pold, sotfered bitterly under the temarkable
that and they (the witnesses) concluded that they sold
penseit ions Prov dunce. Mr. It avell added,
the peke, elthongit educated in military tidbits,t them tie a perquisite to which they were fully en-
titled.
wac capable of showing in debate that his emu-
merciel knowledge spas as great as that of any Mr. Finlayson said it was but right he should
state publicly, that these tradesmen had come for-
a
ma n. The tVort hy Member concluded with moving
teterd voluntarily, as snort as they saw the report
Itcsolotion, expressive of the feelings of the to
: the newspapers. of the first examination of
Court tome the melencholy occasion of the death m
of his
the prisoners, and they had shown the greatest
Ryal e Highness, and recording ilea sym-
desire to hive every info rmation in their purser.peril of the Court with his Royal Highness she
hie( e Regent, the Duchess of Kent, the rest of Malty large bundles of the papers were produced
the Royal Family, and Noce Coburg, &c. by the witnesses, and sworn to by Mr. nulaysoo
as being the property of his Majesty ; but it was
Mr. DixoN seconded the motion, in every word b
stated, that there have been nearly two tons
of which he agreed. lie highly approved of the
pr weight stolen ! and not more than about eight or
omptitude with which the Lord Mayor had •
Among I •
nine cwt. recovered. t lem were the og-
called the Crat.
books of the vessel in which her late Majesty first
Mr. ()entree' could not give a silent vote.--He
came to this country:- whets IA ere in the hand-
tspoke of the many cahmities %%Alia had befallen
,e writing of souse of our oldest Admirals when they
he lioyell Family within the last few years. The
were only Lieetenants, proceedings of Naval
peke was endeared to the public by numberless
public eittues, but tht: chief glow's! of admiratiou Courts Martial, &c. &c.
was, that he had faithfully-followed • his father's The Magistrate inquired, whether papers of this
steps its- ptivaue transactions. At a period when description were ever, under any circumstances,
efforts were mode to establish blasphemous sloe- allowed to he taken away as Perquisites
he example of such a character was in- Mr. Finlayson replied, Certainly oot. On the
es:int.:hie its ere:alit% a. horror of principles sub- contrary, they had been carefully deposited as im-
vtrsive of all order and religion. port alit records, almost ever since the Admiralty
Alderman WOOD joined in the general praise of had been in being. The log-books especially,
the Duke's character, and stated, that be, well were considered as moat important. It an officer
knew his Royal Highness's anxiety to relieve i applied for pension, on account of his wounds,
himself from the embarrassment inevitably caused the log-hook, recording•the action in which he
its his early life. The Duke was no less remark- stated himself to have received those wounds—
ehle for his readiness to assist all military persons was an invariable reference for the. particular
who were under privations, and incurred vast I merits of the case ; and the same with respect to
expenses by his boundless liberality in cases of seareep, alleging to have been unjustly struck off
distress. the Pension List fur desertion—the log-book was
Mr. Jecas said, that he could not give a silent always resorted to fen information.
vote on the present melancholy occasion ;be be- The examination lasted several hours ;. and at
lieved no ather membtr of the Cour, with per- its close, the prisoners were both committed
to
Traps the exception of the worthy Alderman who s Newgate for trial.
spoke last, had opportunities of saying so much
of the late 'entente(' Duke of Kent as he bad done,
particularly at a period when all stare and eti-
gitette were laid aside, and in a country where his
Royal Highne es was probably glad to take a
countryman by' the hand, whom he had formerly
known ; in the various conversations which he
had entered into, upon great variet3 of subjects,
be was surprised to find his Royal Highness so
informed on all points ; and more particti-
latly on those of political economy,a study which,
from his education in camps,awl armies, he did
norsuppose could have much come under his ob-
servation ; but be round the Duke to have forth-
ed very accurate observations on the state of ma-
nufactures on the Continent, and exhibited much
knowledee on their comparative state, and also
of commerce.
After a few words from Mr. Alderman WAITti-
AN, the Resolution was unanimously carried.
The Court agreed to a Petition to Parliament
foe leasre to bring in a Bill to raise further monies
for carrying into execution the Act for erecting a
New Post Office.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

111ANCHESTER SUFFERERS;
Mr. YELLOWLY presented the Report of the
Committees of General Purposes, appointed to
inquire whether any, or what sum, should be
granted 'o the Manacster Sufferers.
The Report recommended that the stun of 500/.
should be granted.
Mr. OLDHAM moved, that until further infor-
mation should be received, the Report should lie
On the table.

Mr. PA rTEII Was surprised that the Members
who tormed the Committee did not support their
rtepot t more spirit edly.
WILLIANIs (01 Smithfield) considering the
stAte of the poor in London, should prefer a vote
of 2001, to the sufferers at Manchester to that of
5001. recommended by the Committee.

CHARGE OF ENIBEZZLENI ENT MADE BY THE EARL
OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.
MARLEOROUGH•STRRET.—The Earl of Bock-
inghamshire charged his Valet and Butler, James
Wright, who bad been six years in his service,
with divers acts of embezzlement. The -Noble
Lord, in an opening address, took a brief review
of the several eases, which he- afterwards called
evidebce to prove. The prisoner was discharged
soddenly when his practices had been discovered ;
but .'onlits being ascertained that the embezzle-
ments had been so often repeated, :Martin, a Mary-
ie-bone constable, wa's sent after him to Reading,
where he apprehended him. The prosecutor had
got possession of the hook in which the prisoner-
made his entries of bills paid, and which was
brought to him every month tor inspection.—The
first rase was an entry of ten guineas paid to Mr.
Plaskett, • of Burlington street, for wine in Feb-
ruary, 1819. The prosecutor had paid Mr. Plea-
kett 2831. for wine just before, and he desired the
prisoner to pay the other 10 guineas, contracted
since the-payment -of the other bill, as he was
about to leave London for some time. Mr. Plas-
kett's clerk proved that the 10 guineas aCeounted
for in his Lordship's book as paid never had been
teceivedr—To this charge the prisoner said- lie-h4tl
paid the money; when Lord B. asked for the re-
ceipt, which the prisoner said he had not got.—
A second charge was preferred against the pri-
soner by Mr. Chevery, a coal-merchant, in Upper
Thames-street. The sum of 81. 19s. Gil, had been
charged in the book as paid, which Mr. C. proved
had never'been received.--A third charge was
preferred by Mr. Butter, an iron-monger io Ox-
tord-strret. An' entry of 41. 16s. 3d. had been
made as paid, when Mr. B. proved that no such
sum- had been received. A fourth charge was
made by Mr. Coles, a butterman iu Wigmore-
street. The prisoner had made au entry of
21..145. 9d. paid, which Mr. Coles proved bad
never been received. The Noble Lord said, that
the book was in that state that he could not get
at the extent of the embezzlements. He bad
other cases, lie had come forward with conside-
rable reltzetance ; but fa om the prisoner's miscon-
duct in not coming forward to explain himself
when sent for, he should pursue him to trial. The
prisoner here handed over a written character,
given him by his master. Lo'rd Buckinghamshire
refused to give hint back the letter, which was
written before 'these frauds were discoveTed, and
since 'that, be co9ld not in his conscience suffer
hint io have the letter back —The prisoner tsar
fully committed for trial, end the parties bound
over to let osecutg.

Mr. DIXON believed the motion upon this sub-
jeer had its origin in ,party feeling, and not in hu-
runnity. Those who were culpable were the men
who ►ook advantage of the poor, and worked up-
on their feeliogs by gross misrepresentations. The
respectable people of Manchester were extremely
liberal to the poor, and the money already sub-
scribed was more than sufficient to answer the
purl-costs -for which the subscirption had been
opened. lie therefore opposed the grant alto-
gether.as ridiculous.

PaACtiCK !Wiled a specific sum wcruld
be v0..,1.

Air. ..Fv7t..L wished the report should be sent
hick to ,hr Cotirnittlee. Tilt' Lot poration 01101E10
hr j!:tt't thiore they wete generous, and be Should