Star.
London, England, 1807-03-19 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

A meffage from the Lords informed the Houfe, that Ruh. Lord.
lbtpt had agreed to the Irifh Tobacco Importation Bill, to tht
Sierra Leone Company Bill, with amendments, to which this 4,„
fired the concurrence of the Houfe; to the Royal Mutiny .10
and to the Thames Police Bill.

Colonel S rAXLIT gave notice, that be would on Friday nrrt
move for leave to bring in a Bill for regulleting and adjulting it.:
Wages of Pinions employed in certain Woollen Manufsetirca
Sir J. NICH9L gave notice, that he would to morrow fubtalt a
motion to the Houle relative to the Regulation of Seamen's Prat
Money.
Lard STOFF oats read. at the Bar, the Report of the Colchefter
Committee, declaring Robert Thornton, Efq. duly Siete:4, agt
that the Petition, as far as fame relates to laid Robert Fhornts,
was not frivolous or vexatious ; and silo that William Taffeta,
Efq. was duly elected, and that the Petition, fo far as relates is
the Paid William Tuffncil, did appear to the Committee to he in.
volous and vexatious.

Mr. VAN SITTA RT gave in at the bar a Special Report oushe
Sbrcwlbury Committee, Rating the atience of one of its MCM.
bers,and the cattle of fuch abfence (fudden indifpouti,oi) Acted.
A medical Gentleman attended at the bar, and prov.:d the glade
of Mr. Windham (tilin, and the impoißbility. in confluencr
thereof, of his attendance on Paid Committee, Letve was tbro
given to the Committee to adjourn till Saturday neat.
Mr. JonitsoN, from the °Mee of Chief Secretary of Ireland,
gave in at the bar their Fifth Report, and alfo the Grand jury
Affeffments, from the office of Chief Secretary of Ireland. took
were ordered to lie on the table, and to he printed.
Lord H. Pe cry moved, that the Houfe be called oar
morrow, and the defaulters committed to the cuftody of the Set.
jcant at Arms —Ordered accordingly.
The irith Paper Duty Bill was read a fecond time, and commit-
ted for to morrow.

Mr. HODHOUSt brought ep the Repart of the Committee of
Supply, with refpedt to the frith Loan The refolutions were L.
verally put and agreed to, without any further obfervatlons.

PUBLIC OrkICES IN ICOTLAND.

Lord H. PETTY gave notice of a motion for to morrow, for
leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the Public OfEces in Scotland.

ROMAN CATHOLIC OFFlChltf' BILL.

Lord HO WICK rofe, and addrefled the Houfe as
follows :
" Sir, I tome time ago hid the honour to introduce His this
Houre, a Bill for authorifing the admifßon of certain Religions
Seas into the Army and Navy, and to entitle Roman Catholics,
amongft others, to hold Commiftions therein, which Bill (lands is
the orders of to-morrow for a fecond reading. I have altity
been under the neectSty, on account of certain circumftaccs,
twice to propofc to the Houfe the poftponemeta of that Bill ; and
I have now to Rate to the Houfe, that, on account of thefe fame
eircuniftances, I (hall not be prepared to proceed to the fecond
reading tomorrow, as I fully intended. My not being able to
name any particular day for the further proceedings in this Int-
nefs,makes me think it better aow to give notice, that I !ball not
tomorrow move fur 'the fecond reading ; and in confeqiience, that
order will drop, to be hereafter revived, as will be found mat
pedient. lam aware, Slr, that the tootle which this meat-re has
taken, mutt neeettaily attradt much attention and ohfcrvation;
and that the Houfe will be naturally defiroue to have tome expla-
nation upon the fubjca to which I have Abided ; but all that I co
at preterit fay is, that I throw mytelf upon the indulgence of the
Houle (L6md crest f Hear, Hear, frees all parsers), as I feel, that
soy puhlte duty does not *laborite me to do more. 1 can stun
the HOufe, however, that whenever the moment arrives, when k
11
will be deemed proper to fay more, I mall mot fail to avail mi-
t& of an opportunity of explaining all my public eondua ; tat
under the precept clreurcdtar.ecs, I truft I (hall not be preffed fa-
ther upon this fubjedt.. I mail therefore confine mytelf to Rath!,
that I am not yet autborifed to fay more, than that I &all not tat
morrow move the fecond reading of that

WESTMINSTER PETITION.

The CHANCELLOR .of the EXCHEQUER
moved that the Wellmintler Petition be now taken
into further confederation. The queßion being put
and agreed to,
Mr. SHERIDAN rofe and Paid, that he was aware
that (landing in the foliation he did, he was entitled
to comment, to remark, and to fum up, on all the
evidence that had been adduced inafupport of the al.
legations contained in the Petition now before the
Houle ; he should, however wave that right—the
evidence was in the hands of every Member of that
Houle, and he was not anxious to add to the
impreffion which teßimony of fuch a nature mutt
have already produced ; he would content hinafelf
with one remark, which was, that that evidence,
weak and futile as it was, did not fay more to its
own confufion than would have been proved by wits
neffes unimpeachable, which he (Mr. Sheridan), had
the Houfc thought it neceffary, was ready to bring
forward. As an inßance, he (hould mention merely
Mr. Weatherhead himfelf, when an inquiry was
made as to his fervices in the navy, he confcffed
felf not quite fatisfied with the return of the Navy
Officers. A Noble Lord (Faltanne), was evilly
diffatisfied, but upon different grounds. The Noble
Lord teemed to think that this Mr. Weatherhead
had been calumniated, and accordingly the N
Lord moved for a return at once more exact and
comprehenfive. What had been the Mae of this at-
tempt to tercue the chat after of this Mr. Weather-
head from this fuppofed Bander ? Why, in truth, no
more than this, that he Mr. Weatherhead, had not
ferved in-one ship only, but in twelve or thirteen—
that he had continued in one a year—in another
(hip three months—in a third, a month—in a lotion,
three weeks—and in a fifth jive cia.v.r—running as it
were, the gauntlet of the B.iui(h Navy ; for it ap•
peared that he had been *dually guilty of defertion
from each (hip, though in the fit R return it appeared
that he had deferted but once. But it was not mote
difficult to fix the Ration of this Naval Officer to a
certain fhip, than to fix his birth to a certain place,
(a laugk)—he had the fingular good fortune to be
born at a number of different places---(4lauth)--
he was borti,firil at Newcalile, he was born nes al
Morpeth, and after Tome other births he was finalif
lrought forth in London (a loud laugh); but there was
sloothss flight ground of °Nation to the charatter
of this witnefs—its the month of September 1803. he
petitioned to be examined for a Lieutenantey,and to
the reeommetsdatory certificate of the different Cap-
tains under whom he (creed, there was but one ob•

namel:
forgeries. He
Houle the grn
furdities in tho
With expnfe
gout. of the hn
excited ; but t
Houk, whethe
far thole wren
cy ; how far i
to inquire intn
ebaratier of th,
`►here this evil
2 Member of
clanger of pro
privy councill4
how far the
,rretchett, as
they might ha
it) in the ne
garden. and I
would keep hi:
into any rem
idea ri fubmiti
invelligating t
however, in co
Right Honoui
ment was with
now through a
cattle with co
was, that the
alert its own
preferve his.
Mr. SHER
Mr. MICR,
that he had be
evidence that
Petition, and f
the whole was
had been alw;
and he could
light than that
nourable Gentl

the evidence,

conf►derahle le
prevarication :
the teflimony
Drake. He in
he had been c
chafe from H
thought the I
fuch conduit te
that a profecu
fully maintain,
the Houfe was
content with tl
on the wretche
that could een
as men detefial
moving, That
Petition were I
Lord FO LI
of the obfervat
raeter of Wea
dering the evic
parts, except i
appear to him
vale intereft o
out any found
on the evider
confirmed by
ridan. The I
duty of Mr. I
previous enqui
who made thel
would they ha
that Drake ha
Mr. Sheridan,
been accepted
being negoci;
fuch a perfon I
the fails conta
ral to place fo
menu. He ri
to impute any
With regard
dence, he conf
home to Walli
dividuals, 0,
very different
had done on tf
free to declare
been proved.
the prefent ma
Nlr. WHIT
dared his furp
Lord had mad
confidered the
which was Oil
him, in the cle
tions had beet
evidence with
Inv of irrrpar
Feared to him
witneffes had
tion and falfea
made moft let
Gentleman ; I
charges been
Lord be able ,
had been tam
of Wallis,yet t
this was done
He then prow
which the No
(tam. This ni
airing Lientei
was. He ha(
battle of C3l
equally falfe-
of falfehood
finely had no
elfe with the
fame judgmei
the atrium t
had keen prc
witneffes, vrhe
had been gui]
the flighteft c
but their o'

'► were kite an
Mr. Paull of
neither he no
previous en 9
brought forty

r-

jettinn, namely, that they were all difenvered to be
forgeries. He was not anxious to prefs upon the
Houle the grnfs and flagrant contradiftinns and ah-
futditieb in the evidence they had heard ; he did not
with to expofe the miferable wretches to the jolt ti
gout of the hnnell indignation they had fo univerfally
excited ; but he would put it to the feelings of that
Houfe, whether it was not necelTary to inquire how
far thole wretches had been the tools of a confpira-
cy ; how far it was the duty of any agent or agents
to inquire into the nature a the teflimnny and the
charafier of the witnetTes' more efpecially in a raft
where this evidence went clireitly to affed the feat of
a Member of Parliament, to mention nothing nt the
danger of propagating groundlefs flander againfl a
privy councillor. It was for the Houfe to confider
how far the agents are refponfible for employing
,rretcheq, as firbflantial evidence, whole charafter
they might have learned (had they been ignorant of
it) in the neighbourhood of Bow-flreet, Hatton-
garden. and Newgate ; but he fhould abaain, he
would keep his word with the Houle, and not enter
into any remark upon the evidence. He had an
idea rf fubmitting Tome motion for the purpofe of
invefligating the charge of cnnfpiracv ; he thould
however, in compliance with the fuggeitions of thnfe
Right Honourable Friends, whole fuperior judg-
tnent was with him deeilive, give way, and &mid
now through a fenfe of delicacy retire, leaving his
caufe with confidence to the Houle, Allred as he
was, that the Houle would with becoming dignity
alien its own character and honour, and in doing fo
preferve his.
Mr. SHERIDAN immediately withdrew.
Mr. MICHAEL ANGELO TAYLOR declared
that he had been very attentive to the whole feries of
evidence that had been adduced with refpeet to this
Petition, and he had not a doubt upon hii mind, that
the whole was'a flagrant and infamous confpiracy. He
had been always an advocate f,r !the Grenville Aft,
and he could not confider this bufinefs in any other
light than that of a direCt attack upon it. 'I he Ho-
nourable Gentleman then went into a recapitulation of
the evidence, and dwelt with Come warmth and at

contiderable length upon the various inflames of grcfs
prevarication and dire& contradidion in the courfe of
the tcflimony advanced, both by Weatherhead and
Drake. He infilled that the letter which Drake raid
he had been commiffioned by Mr. Sheridan to put-.
chafe from Harris, was an infamons forgery. He
thought the Houle would he junified in punifhing
loch conduCt to the utmotl rigour; he was convinced
that a profecutinn for a confpiracy could be fuccefa-
fully maintained in a court of junice. If, however,
the Houle was not willing to go In far, he fhonld be
content with their inflifting Come fignal punifhment
on the wretches who had been guilty of every thing
that could convict them in the opinion of the world
as men deteflable and infamous.—He concluded with
moving, That the allegations contained in the raid
Petition were falfe and fcandalous.
Lord FOLKSTONE would not difpute the juflice
of the obfervations of the Hon. Member on the cha-
raeter of Weatherhead. But he could not help confi
dering the evidence of Drake as continent in all its
parts, except in a few immaterial points. It did not
appear to him that thofe perfons could have any pri
vac intereft or views in making thole charges, with-
out any foundation. He then proceeded to comment
on the evidence of Drake, which feemed to him
confirmed by the evidence of the friends of Mr. She-
ridan. The Hon. Member had raid, that it was the
duty of Mr. Paull and his Solicitor to have made
previous enquiries into the charalters of the perfons
who made there.allegations. But in that cafe what
would they have found ?They would have difeovered
that Drake had been for many years connected with
Mr. Sheridan, and that bills drawn by Drake had
been accepted by Mr. Sheridan, for the purpufe of
being negotiated by Drake. And furely, when
loch a perfon comes forward and makes affidavit of
the rails contained in tie petition, it was very natu-
ral to place fome degree of confidence in Lis Rate-
ments. He mutt therefore confider it as very hard
to impute any thing like a confpiracy to Mr. Paull.
With regard to other matters contained in the evi-
dence, he confidered the Litt of tampering as brought
home to Wallis, though not to Burgers and other in-
dividuals, On dm whole, the evidence had made .1
very different impreffinn on his mind from what it
had done on that of the Hon. Member, and be was
free to declare, that, in his opinion, the allegations had
been proved. He fhould therefore give a negative to
the prefent motion.
Mr. WHITBREAD, in very animated terms, de-
clared his furprife at the declaration which the Noble
Lord had made in the outlet of his fpeech, that he
confidered the evidence of Drake as confitlent ; and
which was Hill further heightened when he heard
him, in the dole, erprefs an opinion that the allega-
tions had been fully proved. He had confidered the
evidence with the fame eyes, and with the fame feel-
inga of impartiality with the Noble Lard, and it ap-
peared to him, that out of their own mouths the
witnettes had been convicted of the groffell prevarica-
tion and falfehond. The-allegations which they had
made moll let ioufly affected the charafter of an Hon.
Gentleman ; but, he would ant, had any one of there
charges been proved ? or where would the Noble
Lord be able to point it nut ? Suppofing there even
had been tampering in one inflance, he meant that
of Wallts,yet there was nor the (lighten evidence that
this was done at the infligation of Mr. Sheridan.—
He then proceeded to examine the evidence of Drake
which the Noble Lord had raid to be perfeCtly con-
tlitent. This man had told the Houle that he had b-..en
a: Ling Lieutenant, which it had been proved he never
was. He had alto laid that he had loft his leg at the
battle of Camperdown, which had been proved
equally falfe—in (hurt, his evidence was one tiffue
of falfehood and prevarication. The Noble" Lord
Purely had not read the evidence before the Houle,
elfe with the fame eyes, the fame feelings, and the
lime judgment as other men, he could not have made
the alfertion this night, that the various allegariJne
had !leen proved. He vp.uld a(k any man, were
witnefres, who had contradifted one another, and who
had been guilty of the groffeft falfehunds, entitled to
the {lighten credit ? It would not require any thing
but their own evidence to prove that the charges
were falfe and reandalous. He certainly acquitted
Mr. Paull of a confpiracy, but he was furprized that
neither he nor his 'Solicitor fhould have mane tome
previous enquiry into the charafter of th.le Who
brought forward charges affecting the honour of Lis

Right Hon. Friend, and even the eharafter of the
Hof itfelf.

Mr. TAYLOR'. tnntion was then put—

"That the allegations in Paid Petition were fake and fcartflalnts. "
Which was carried, with the tingle negative of Lord
FOLIESTONE.
Mr. TAYLOR next moved—
. 4 That William Drake, in giving evidence before this Route,
had been guilty of gmfs talfchood and prevarication."
" That the Paid William Drake, for his fai.l offence, he com-
mitted to his Majetty's gaol of Newgate, and that the Speaker do
ifruc his warrant accordingly."
Both which motions paired unanimotilly.