The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-10-20 00:00:00

TILE STATESMAN.

the revival of learning to be perfect in all points of •
Government; while the mass of the people had for
ages here kept in a state of ignorance and depres-
sion, and had not been taught the principles of their
Government by the annual exercise of their rights
and their d.ities, under instructive arrangements to
that end. The old serpent, therefore, was but too
succes,fol in preventing the good seed sown in the
Convention Parliament from producing its natural
fruit—a restored Constitution. That Parliament,
after brief; its lawful period, not exceeding one year,
expired, and a new one was born. Into this, unhap-
pity, a new spirit was infused ; so that when we con-
sider what was done by these two Parliaments as the
work of one set of men, we perceive incongruities
that give us no small surprise; and that in fact, next
to nothing was done of that which was promised.—
In short, in looking back to what is generally in-
cluded within the period of the Revolution, we see
44 rights and liberties declared, claimed, demanded,
and insisted on," which were NOT recovered, and
principles proclaimed as fundamental, which were
NOT embodied in any restored and reformed institu-
tions for producing their proper effects.

66 The Convention House of Common•, while
the best manner of restoring and settling the
Constitution, employed their thoughts, after much
consideration, after committing and re-committing
certain heads of matters ' absolutely necessary' to-
wards the accomplishing of their object; and after
distinguishing such as were to be introduced into the
Statutes then immediately in contemplation, as ' de-
claratory of ancient rights,' from such as were to
make the matter of new laws' for putting the na-
tion in possession of those ancient rights, ' drew the
same into form,' and proceeded to pass the Bill of
Rights.
66 With reference to the proposed new laws that
were to accomplish what the Bill of Rights declared,
it is not at present necessary to notice any other than
a resolution for preventing the too long continusnce
of the same Parliament.' Now what possible cri-
terion can we base for ascertaining what is 'too
long,' unless we measure by the mete wand of the
Constitution, by some principle of free Government,
or by some rule of law ? Too long is an expres►ion
that has reference to some standard. It cannot re•

late to expediency or policy, which is one thing to.
day, another to-morrow ; one thing in the imagiva.
lion of Richard, another in the fancy of Robert.—
Those who at that time used this phrase, doubtless
acted on the same reason as those in our day who
have laid it down that Parliaments ought to be brought
back to a constitutional duration,' perfectly know-
ing what that duration is ; but thereby averting pre-
mature objections founded in faction or ignorance.
" Looki:ig back, then, to the progress made in
that work of generations' by which the English na.
lion have had to redeem themselves into that state of
liberty to which by nature and the Constitution they
wete entitled ; and remarking in particular how
much of this work was effected by the critical reforms
of 1215 and 1689, not forgetting to Time how much
of the work at the latest of tne:,e periods wits left
undone, and remain; yet to be ac,mmulisheil, we ,h3ll
be enabled ' not nist to -ea our way,' bdt to under-
wand what we are about, in labniiring to complete
the " restoration of that ancient Constitution where-
of our Saxon ancestors were unjust I) depraved, partly
by the policy, and partly by the force of the Nor-
twin."

After noticing that the above observation may serve
to correct an error of those who have mistaken the
work of re-building for original building, Sic. he
continued—

" Thin contemplating our subject, we observe
that it has brew eaer%ed for the nresent race of Eng-
lishmen to crown the patriotic labours of six centu-
tie:, and put the finishing hand to this work of
generations ;' and how delightful the thought, that
b 5 acwrting our natural right, and by restoring the
tlef2ncei of our liberty, the inundation shall be
stayed, and the virtuous heart of England be glad-
dened by a golden harvest of freedom waving through
the land !

'• Although, on the grounds we have explained,
tae arc full of hope and confidence in a happy re.
stilt, yet we forget not, that in place of benefiting
from the soundness of the Constitution, we are suf.
feting from its decay ; ' in place of experiencing na-
tional security from a faithful adherence to this cri-
terion of right government, unfaithful deviations
have brought us into the extremity of danger.' In
this situation, the wide extent of our foreign pos-
sessions affords no consolation ; the capture of
island after island adds nothing to our strength; vas-
sals brought under our yoke by millions, promise no
support ; nor can the occasional flashes of glory from
naval and military heroism dissipate the gloom:
hundreds of millions wrung from industry by taxa-
tion without representation, have been spent, and
profusely on every soil has the blood of England
been shed ; hut still deeper and deeper we sink in
difficulty, danger, and despondence ! The sole secret
of this mockery of our madness, of this desertion of
our duty, of this bitter fruit of our folly, is, that
legislative authority is transferred from legitimate
responsible trustees, to usurpers of the seats of
legislation, whose wealth increases with national dis-
tress, whose aggrandisement keeps pace with national
degradation, and vs hoselainfol corruptions, blind.
ing the eyes and hsrdening•the heart, cause an infa.
tuation as inveterate as that of Pharaoh, which ended
not until he, his chariots, his horsemen, and his
whole host, were overwhelmed in destruction."

EQUESTRIAN FEAT EXTRAORDINARY.-011 Tues.
day se'iinight, T. Poole, Eici. of Illodshrove,
undertook, for a wager of 30 guineas, to ride down
the steepest putt of the Devil's Dyke, near Du ighton,
on horseback, a descent at least of three hundred
ards, and, in many places, almost vertical ! Mr.
P,,01e is not only one, of the most daring, but one of
the best riders in this county, and the frightful task
above named he performed on Tuesday, with the
greatest ease, in the presence of a field of nearly
one hundred sportsmen ! In the descent he was al-
lowed to diverge ten yards only to the right or left of
the 'starting point, but so nearly straight was his
progress, that he did not deviate more than three
feet at most from the line. He rode an aged mare of
his own, who rapidly executed her task, galloping
with her fore feet, and sliding upon her hocks, no
less to the astonishment than gratification of all
present.

WESTMINSTER SESSIONS.

Yesterday the General Quarter Sessions for the
City and Liberties of Westminster, commenced be-
fore William Watson, Esq. Deputy Chairman, and
a full Bench of hiagistrates.
After the Proclamation against vice and immora-
lity, and the Act against riotously aßsembling, were
read, the Deputy Chairman informed the Grand Jury
that he had looked through the Callender, and
though there were a good number of offences, they
were all of them of a trivial nature, nut callii.g for
any observation from him ; they would therefore re-
tire to their room, and give the business that dispatch
to which it was entitled.
RIOT AT THE HON. F. ROBINSON'S.

John Bristow was indicted for a riot, in throwing
stones, and assembling with others in a riotous man-
ner in the front of the lion. Frederick John Robin.
son's house, on the night of Tuesday the 7th of
March last, in the parish of St. James, Westminster,
and there with a brickbat or stone, driving open the
window shutters of the said house, to the great dan-
ger of the said Frederick Jelin Robinson, and to the
disturbance of the public peace.
Ripley, servant to Mr. Robinson, said, that
he was in his service in the month of March last. On
Tuesday the 7111, about ROO people had assembled
right and left in front of the house, throwing stones;
they forced the window-shutters open; the windows
were broken the day before; the mob demanded Mr.
Robinson to come out, that they might hang him on
the lamp-post. On the Monday they got into the
house, and took away the chairs and tables belonging
to the hall ; they returned on the Tuesday night, af-
ter the witness had placed the house under the pro-
tection of the soldiers; some person threw a stone or
brick-bat, which forced the window-shutters; it was
then the mob demanded Mr. Robinson to come eut,
and they would tie him to the lamp-post; they stood
till half-past ten o'clock, when' the military dispersed
them.

-- Herne, a constable belonging to the parish of
St. Saviour's, said he went into the mob in question
along with Harris, Holmes, and Popham; Mr. Ito•
binson's house was situated in Burlington-gardetta ;
on Tuesday night he saw the Prisoner there exactly
iu front of the house, standing on the pavement ; rz
boy with a basket came up to the Defendant, and
gave him a stone or hrick-hat, he could not say
whirl' ; he took it in his left hand, and immediately
let fly at Mr. Robinson's window, upon which the
witness instantly laid hold of him ; while they
were conveying him away, he slipped something out
of his hand, which Hohnes tried to pick up, hut
could net; he is quite sure the Defendant is the
person.

Cross-examined for the Defendant by Mr. A LLSY.
—Did not know of any reward—newer heard of any
—nor did he expect ail. The boy had a basket
()srr his arm; he picked up the stone, and gave it
to the Defendant.

Mr. At.t.cy here remarked, that from the way in
whica the witTiesF cave his examiostiog in chief, hot
was conv:need mere as not a peis,,n Couit who
did not Suppose that the boy was i;ning about sYriing
out sionPs In thrice who WCfP so wicked as to throw
them. 1k asked the witness would he swear that he
had not given a different account of this at the Pah-
Office, llow,dreet ?-11e would not undertake to
swear he had not.

an extra constable of Ilatton-garden
Office, was with last witness at Mr. Robinson's house,
on the night in question : there were 150 persons
present, and among that number was the Defendant.
Ile saw the Defendant step forward, pick up some-
thing from the ground, and pitch it under handed at
Mr. Itubinsun's house, crying at the same time,
" here goes." The people made way for him, and
it had the effect of bursting open the shutters •f Mr.
Robinson's window. When he stooped down to get
the missile which he threw, and while he was in the
act of preparing to throw it, the witness could not
have prevented him. Ile was never given to sup-
pose there would be any reward of 1001. lie has
seen bills offering a reward, but be had been in the
country since. Does not know that the rewind
was 3001.

Daniel Harris did not see the Defendant till he was
in custody.
Mr. ALLEY made a long defence for the Prisoner,
principally dwelling upon the differences in the testi-
mony of the witnesses, not two of them agreeing in
the same story ; hut one of them insisting that he re-
ceived the stone from a boys, and the other that he
himself picked it up. The fact is, that being en ap-
prentice to a laceman of resp+ctability, whom he had
here to his character, and skishing to get out of the
crowd into which idle curiosity had led him, he made
an effort to digengsge himsraf, and that effort was
construed by the officers into the assault in question.
There was here, however, no associating together for
any of the unlawful purposes mentioned, proved ;
nor any thing that at all amounted to such an offcmce,
should go. to deprive the young man at the bar of his
fair fame.

The DEPUTY Ca ‘TRNIANT having recapitulated the
evidence, told the Jury that if they believed the wit-
nesses, the Prisoner was gailty. It was his duty to
lay, that in point of law, upon the same supposition,
the Prisoner was guilty.
The Jury, after deliberating about a quarter of an
hour, found the Prisoner Not Guilty.

The Commission of Lunacy, which has been sitting
at the Castle of Exeter for sitteen days past, closed
its investigation in Court on Tuesday last. Wed-
nesday morning, we understand, the Grand Jury
would see the object of their investigation, Mr.
Illh.srny B. BAKER. himself, previous to giving their
verdict. This is one of the most extraordinary in-
vestigations ever gone through in Exeter. The num-
ber of witnesses brought forward to prove the in.
sanity amounted to tifty-twn; the number on the
other side was scarcely less numerous. Mr. DAtiNCEY
spoke for upwards of six hours. Mr. Greruno oc.
cupied four hours in his closing speech. The ex-
pellees attending the trial are estimated at not less
than
A ri2i°°°ngullerly heautifel sheep, of the true Leices-
ter hreed, from his. Gram:4l4k ijojta of BropoßD'i
Woburn flock, was killed on Monday last ill Clare.
market, the carcase of which weighed 2 stone.