Star.
London, England, 1809-08-02 00:00:00

~t

u }:it 69861

FLOWER, MAYOR.

A COMMON COUNCIL, holden in the Chamber
TA of the GUILDHALL of the CITY of LONDON, on
-r,esd,y 'he Ist day.of August, 11109,
a—olvtd, That this Court did, on the 6th day of April last,
areas Its Thanks and Gratitude to GwvLLIM LLOYD WARDLE,
tsci for !lit conduct in bringing forward and substaniatiog ae-
;mi., Charges against the late Commander in Chief, which, not-
;,ithstanding the majority In his favour in the House of Coni-
ma,s, compelled his resignation. That no circumstance has
since transpired which can in any manner leases the importance
of that investigation, impeach his motives, or affect the merits
of the rase. On the contrary, his unwearied exertions, perse-
verance and fortitude, under unexampled threats and difficulties,
have developed a scene of scandalous Abuse and Corruption, not
oily in the Army, but in various departments of the State.
That it has been discovered by the said investigation, that
the" :buses hive extended, not only to the disposal of Church
East India Patronage, but also to the disposal of Seats in the
Ll:slaty-es and charges have been brought torward and proofs
offered, implicating in such corrupt and illegal traffic Lord Vis-
count Castlereagh, the Honourable Spencer Perceval, and the
Honourable Henry Wellesl.7,, all Members of the House, and
thee and now holding ostensible situations in his Majesty's Go- i
yenursent, a traffic which, in the langausge of the Speaker of the
Bowe of Commons, " Would briag a greater scandal upon the
o parliament anti the Nation this Country has ever blown
" since Parliament has had an titan
iStence."
That the said investigation has also led to the discovery, that
the said Lord Castlereagh, one of his Majesty's Secretaries of
state,3ml late President of the Board of Controul, did, in fla-
tram breath of his duty as a Minister, abuse of his patronage,
sod gross violation of the Constitrition, place a Writership in the
hand°--, of Lora Clancarty, a Member of the same Beard, for the
purpose of obtaining for him a Seat in Parliament ; which fact the
said Lord Castlereagh has himself admitted, and notwithstanding
there appeared a smaller majority in his favour, than appeared in
favour of the Duke of York, in manifest injustice to Isis Royal
ta,ghaew, and gross insult to the Nation, the said Lord Castle_
:ear.h still retains his official situation.
'fbat these attacks upon the viral principle. of the Constitu-
don have been nude without punishment er censure; and mo-
tions for inquiry into such practices have been rejected, upon the
:Hedged frequency and notoriety of them ; and Parliament has I
thereby, as well as by passing a Bill to prevent the sale of Scats
in that Howe, recognised and acknowledged the corrupt in-
licence under which it lest been called together, and exercised its

functions.
Thar it was stated by Mr. Wasuatt, that there was an Office
publicly kept open for the Sale of Places under Government, and
although such statement, when made, only excited the derision of
!diviners and the House, it has since appeared that the above
statement was correct; and his Majesty's Ministers have in-
dicted and convicted several persons concerned therein, and such
practices were declared in the said indictment to have a tendency
to degrade, vilify and traduce awl bring into contempt, the Ad-
ministration of the Country.
That by various statements which Mr. lA'A.antr has lately
submitted to Parliament, it appears, that by a correction of the
frauds, abuses, corrup►ion and peculation, which have been found
to exist in every branch of the public expenditure to which in-
quiry has extei-ded, and a wise and honest application of our re-
sources, the people might be relieved from heavy and oppressive
bunhens, if not wholly from Oat inquisitorial and most grievous
of all imposts, the Tax upon Income. That his conduct on this
occasion seems to have drawn upon him, in a high degree, the
malice and rancour of those who are interested in the continuance
of these aliases.
'Thar in the opinion of this Court, individuals who devote their
exertions towards exposing and correcting public abuses, are at all
t;ines entitled to the support and protection of the country, par-
ticularly at the present moment, when there appears an tanabating
e:urt on the part of thine notoriously under the influence of Go-
vernment, or who participate in the existing frauds, corruptions
and peculation., to cry down, vilify and traduce every man who
Pas courage and integrity to expose such practices, in order to
mislead the public,, and divert their attention from these great
WOODTHOItPE.