Star.
London, England, 1810-03-26 00:00:00

SIR FRANCIS BURDETT..

The following Letter has beeri addressed by Sir
FRANCIS 13CRDETT to his Constituents
66 GRSTLEBIEN—The House of Commons having
hyaws
aeonihmisdr.ceisctyt
IselsadaerLtnmeaopic:mwtub:serdniosatorsisftntorht:
ohaeeeeoLrrg declarationemeaoenenwaeig
h t than
r
free-men,
1,;
More
nt think
degrees
g even
ee i
nyt
passedConstituents,mwManhyao g nOsderuadptayerhstoa: rnt You,taalt7ll
upon the decision of this question—a question of no
less importance than this : Whether our liberty be
still to be secured by the laws of our fotefathervor
be to lay at the absolute mercy of a part of out fel:
low-subjects, collected together by means which it is
not necessav for me to describe ?
gg In order to give to this subject all the attention
to which it is entitled ; and to avoid the danger to
be apprehended from partial views and personal feel-
ing, it will be advisable to argue the question on its
own merits, putting the individual (however we may
deplore his present sufferings) out of view ; though,
at the same time, every man ought to consider the
case his own; because, should the principle upon which
the Gentlemen of the House of Commonshave thought
proper to act in this instance, be once admitted, it is
impossible for any one to conjecture how soon he
himself may be summoned from his dwelling, and
be hurried, without ttial, and without oath madi
against him, from the bosom of his family into the
clutches of a jailor. It is, therefore, now the time
to resist the doctrine upon ,which Mr. Jones has been
sent to Newgate ; or it is high time to cease all pre-
tensions to those Liberties, which were acquired by
our forefathers, after so many struggles and so many
sacrifices.
" Either the house of Commons is authorized to
dispense with the Laws of the Land ; or it is not.-r
If the Constitution be of so delicate a texture, so weak
a frame, so fragile a substance, that it is to be only
spoken of in terms of admiration, and to be viewed
merely as a piece of curious but unprofitable workman-
p; if Magna Charta, and all the wholesome laws of
England, be a dead letter: in that case, the affirmative
of the proposition may be admitted; but, if the Con-
stitution lives, and is applicable to its ends ; namely,
the happiness of the community, the perfect security of
the life, liberty, and property of each member and all
the members of the society ; then the affirmative of the
preposition can never be admitted ; then must we br.
free-men ; for we need no better security, no more
powerful protection for our Rights and Liberties,
than the Laws and Constitution. We seek for, and
we need seek for, nothing tom ; we ask for no more
than what our forefathers insisted upon as their own;
we ask for no more than what they' bequeathed unto
us ; we ask for no more than what they, in the Tes-
tament which some of them had sealed, and which
the rest of them were ready to seal with their blood,
expressly declared to be the Birth-right of the Peo-
,ple ot England ;' namely,' ,he LAWS of ERGLAND!:
To these Laws we have a right to look with confi
deuce for smirks ; to these laws the individual no
.w
la
imprisoned has, through me, applied for redress
vain. Those who have imprisoned him have refused
to (listen to my voice, weakly expressing the strong
this
principles of the Law, the undeniable claims of
Ewintfilittleanfo'src'e4 Birth-right."
and, I am not without hope, that it may proves r. the
tible, if it proclaim to this House of Conl!li°114 "toed
to the Kings of old, 6 NOLUMITS Ltots ANous
torow`
same tone as the tongues of our anCestors
TAttl
aYndougrreyaotierce
remsapye.ccto;m;
;' in our own more clear and not lefes •
L NOT
languagit TIM LAWS OF ENGLAND SHAL
CUANORD.! °
"
POW contending is the same ?rumple for whicil
Fellow Chia, for which!! .obe

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THE EVENING' STAR..

people of England have contended from the earliest
ages ; and their glorious success in which contests are
now upon record in the great Charter of our rights and
liberties, and in divers other subsequent statutes of
scarcely less importance. It was this same great prin-
ciple which was again attacked by CHARLES I. in the
measure of Ship Money, when again the People of
England and an uncorrupted House of Commons re--
yawed the contest; a contest which ended in the im-
prisonment, the trial, the condemnation, and the execu-
tion of that ill-advised King. The self-same principle
it was that was so daringly violated byhis son James 11.
for which violation he was compelled to flee from the
just indignation of the people, 'who not ' only stript
him of his Crown, but prevented that Crown from
descending to his family. In ill these contests, the
courage, perseverance, and fortitude of our ancestors,
conspicuous as they were, were not more so than their
wisdom ; for, talk as long as we will about Rights,_
Liberties, Franchises, Privileges, and Immunities, of
what avail are any, or all of these together, if our
persons tan, at the sole will and command of
man, or set of men, be seized on, thrown into prison,
and there kept during the pleasure of that man or set
of men ? If every one of you be liable, at any time, to
be sent to jail without trial, and without oath made
against you, and there to be detained as long as it
pleases the perces sending you there (perhaps to the end
of your life) without any Court to appeal to, without
any means of redress : if this be the case; shall we still
boast of the Laws and of the Liberties of England ?
—Volumes have been written by foreigners as well
as by our own countrymen in. praise of that part of
our law, which, in so admirable a manner, provides
for our personal safety against any attacks of men in
power. This has indeed been, in all ages, the pride
or our country ; and it is the maintenance of this prin-
ciple which enabled us to escape that bondage, in
which ell the states and kingdoms in Europe were
enthralled by abandoning and yielding it up ; and,
we may be assured, that if we now abandon it, the
bright days of England's glorynvill set in the night
of her disgrace.
a But I would fain believe that such is. not to be
our fate. Our forefathers made stern, grins-visaged
PREROGATIVE hide his head; they broke in pieces his
sharp and massy sword. And,. 'ball we, their'sons,
be afraid to enter the lists with undefined Peivieece,
assuming the powers of Prerogative ?
“ I shall be told, perhaps, that there is not much
danger of this power being very frequent& exercised.
The same apology maybe made for the exercise
of any power whatever. I do not suppose that the 1
Gentlemen of the House of Commons will send
any of you to jail when you do not displease them.
Mr. Yoaxa did not move for the sending of Mr.
Jure to jail, till Mr. JONES displeased him ; but it
is not a very great compliment to pay to any Con-
stitution, to say, that it does not permit a man to
be imprisoned, unless he has done something to
displease persons in power. ft—irould be difficult,
should suppose, to find any man upon earth,
however despotic his disposition, who would not be
contented with the power ofsending to prison, during
his pleasure, every one who should dare to do any thing
r : displease him. Besides, when I am told, that there
is 1:ele danger that the Gentlemen in the House of
C. • •Thirl will often exercise this power, I cannot help
•oLzri.. .-.- that, though the examples may be few, their
-, ,
effect will, naturally, be great and general. At this We this morning received Dutch papers to the 23d
moment, it is trueewe see but one man actually in jail instant, from which we have subjoined some extracts.
for havint displeased those Gentlemen ; but the fate of It is at length decided that Holland shall retain her
this one man (as is the effect of all punishments) w:11 4
I edepen. ence as a Kingdom, and Louis will resume
deter others from expressing their opinions of the con-
his Throne Ifter the celebration of his Brother's mar-
ductof those who have the power to punish him. And,
moreover, itis in the nature of allpower,andespecially rime. I'lie Dutch are informed, however, that this
of assumed and undefined power, to increase as it ad- relax.ition of the Emperor's threatened severity has
vances in age ; and, as Magna Charta and the Law 01
not been obtained without •r
considerable sacriaces :
theland have not been.sufficient to protect Mr. JONES,
as we have seen him sent to jail for
.havin," described but whether of a territorial or pecuniary nature, we
Cie conduct of one of the mefnbers as ah outrage soon are not informed. The extracts from the Paris papers
pt:blie feding, what security have we, unless this power' given in the Dutch journals, with the exception of a
of imprisonment be given up, that we shall not see few uninteresting articles from Spain, relate to nothing
other men sent to jail for stating their opinion
k. respect-
ing Rotten Boroughs, respecting but the preparations making for the nuptials of the
sismers sitting in the House; or, iPlacemen and Pen-
n short, for ag French Emperor. Among other entertainments with
any declaration, giving any opinion, nia l
ion, stating
any fact,. which the Parisians are to be gratified, there will be
betraying any feeling, whether by writing, by word of 'tournaments, after the manner of our ancestors, in the
mouth, or by gesture, which may diriplease any of the Champ de Mars, when the Empress
MARIA LOUISA
Gentlemen assembled in St. Stephen's Chapel ?
" Then, again, as to the kind of punishment, why hands. The intended ftltes will, it is said, exceed in
should will dispense rewards to the Victors with her own
ould they step at sending persons to jail? If•they can
send whom :hey please to jail ; if they can keep the splendour and Magnificence those exhibited in the
Persons, so sent, in jail as long as they plea‘e ; if. they " Field of the Cloth of. Geld" of the Chivalrous ages.
can set their prisoners free at the end of the bu hour, -AMSTERDAM, MARCH 19.
or keep them confined for seven years ; if, in short, • The Supplement ((our Royal Courant Of this day
their absolute will is to have the force of law, what '
"turiq can you have that they will stop at imprison; contains the following important article :
a' u?—lf they have the absolute power of imprison- " According to official accounts received from Pa.
ing and releasing, why may they not send their pri- ris, a treaty was signed on the 16th inst. by the re-
soners to York jail, as well as to a jail in London ? spective Plenipotentiaries of his Majesty the King and
WhY Art confine men' in solitary cells, 'or load them
with chains and bolts ? They have uot rine these his Imperial and Royal Majesty, the
Emperor of
lengthsif, the French and King of Italy, by which, with the ex-,
, yet; but, what is there to restrain them,
/erl are to he the sole judges of the extent of their ceprion of some unavoidable sacrifices, the existence
owe
". Powers, and if they are to exer -ise those powers attdintegrity of the kingdom of Holland is preserved."
boat any controul, and without leaving the parties, the same accounts state, that his Majesty intends
'.hem ttkv choose to punish, any mode of appeal, immediately after the marriage of his august brother
any meals of redress ?
~ That a power such as this should exist in any to return to this vountry.
"untrY it is lamentable to be obliged to believe ; r , HAMBURGH, MARCH 15. kit) 1.1:4 it should be suffered to exist, ind that On the Isth instant, a Royal Manifesto was issued
is e e.
z,s,ence should be openly and even boastfully tin Win. according to which, from and after the he-
areweet . .
,in a country, who chief glory has been its
ginning, of the,month of July of this•year, no ships
?ire constitution of government is somethin too Monstrous to be believed, if the pro' of were not fefore (which set. sail from any port in Euri .111 be ad-
our,pe,s la
e
ti.thjiellse• Hadrt the least doubt hung open my mind mittain any Prussian harbours, the ca ego
of which
it sveuld Et yof the proceedings in the presenacase, :ebb • of any other goods than those which are tin
. have been altogether removed by the an- prohibited according to the present continental vs
$4-er
s, -
s given to the references made by me to the great tem. All East and West India produce found on
iu •
Ilniaries of our law,
'flit. Ar and to the laws themselves. , bard of such ships shell immediately he coefiscated,
the atiMent, by which I endeavoured to convince
Gentlemen of the House of Commons, that their the importation of the like commodities being only
ace •
'"n the case of Mr. Jones, were illegal, T shall permitted on board of ships which set sail from ports
r'c'w lay before
Iray than it couhylou,
tar),
Reporters
possibly
in a more full and connected lof America, destined direct for a Prussian harbour ;
; and, in doing this,
he done by the Parliamen- 1
Or
from such ports of the East and West Indies as
that nowl shall do all
tion of h.remains in mr power' towards the correc- are on terms of amity /with France.
powte_ t is, as I deem it, most enormous abuse of • It is said that with the consent of Russia a certain
a and most dangerous of all
uPus the rights and encroachments empire is 'ere long to undergo a very important
rnain,,Gent_lemen, liberties of English Men. I re-
Pic change. It is also reported, that the Archduke Fer.
your most obedient humble servant.,.
--eat, marcirtll, 11110. dinanal, brother of the Empress of Austria, is soon to
ETbe 66 FRANCIS BURDETT."'
, , n follows the Speech which he delivered in the a Princess of one of the
.raosse of com lead to the hymeneal altar,
MOUS Oa the subject.] 'Molt alustricius houses of Germany.
. • ,:4.4416 47, :,,, , i

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L0ND0N.....
• •
5..•• , • .e.
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MONDAY, MARCH 26. r .
PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLACK
3 per Cent Cons. for money 5811—aec. 69 to 69}.
5 per Cent. Navy 08i—Exchequer Bills 3s. to 10c prem.
Bonds 13s. to 14s. preen.
Yesterday we received two Gottenburgh Mails,
and this morning a third arrived. A strong sensa-
tion had been excited in the North of Europe, in con-
seqnence of an official notification given at Ham-
burgh, of the sequestration of all American property
in the ports of France, Holland, Spain, and Naples.
This intelligence is corroborated by letters from Pa-
ris of the 17th inst. which state, " that so soon as the
frequent conferences between the American Minister
at the British Court, and the Secretary of State for the
Foreign Department, became known to NAPOLEON,
and the expectation of their reaching a satisfactory
conclusion, he is said to have directed a decree to be
drawn• up and expedited to every port in France,
Italy, Holland, and Spain, ordering the immediate
'seizure and sale of all vessels and proptrty belong-
ing to the subjects of the United States."
It is once more said that General ARMSTRONG, the
American Minister, at Paris, has made preparations
for quitting France ; it is understood that the Ame-
rican frigate JOHN ADAMS, will call at Havre de Grace
before proceeding to America, when she will pro-
bably take General AKIATRONG on board. Lieute-
nant Etuosx, of the John Arms's, left town on Sa-
turday, for Cowes, with dispatches for America :
these it is said, contain the project of an arrangement
agreed upon between Mr. PINCKNEY and Marquis
WELLESLEY ; having for its object the restoration of ,
commercial intercourse between the two countries.
Letters received at Stockholm from St. Petersburgh,
mention the probability of an approaching war between
Russia and France ; some late movements among the
Russian troops on the frontiers of Poland, appear to
have given rise to these conjectures.
The Danes are said to be preparing for an attack on
Anholt, the possession of which must be very preca-
rious, while England commands the sovereignty of
the sea ; strong fears are e„iertained at Copenhagen,
of another visit from the English.
According to the Copenhagen Commercial Gazette,
126 ships arrived in Touningen from North America
from June to December last year, which brought
13,511 bales of cotton wool, 13,000,0001b5. of coffee,
and large quantities of all ether sorts of colonial pro-
duce. Among the said ships were 22 from Balti-
more, 23 from Boston, .31 from Ne ff York, and 19
from Philadelphia.

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