The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-05-30 00:00:00

,STATESMAN

TO THE
MGM' EON. GEO. PONSONBY, M. P.

" Patere bin ronsilla, Roo Reath r'

was asked a few days after the appear.
ance in the papers of a speech, reported to have.
been delivered by you in 66 House of Commons)

on the subject of the late- Committals, what I
thought of your argument?—to which I replied, ai

was the case, that I had not taken the trouble of
reading it. This declaration excited great star.
prize; because it was presumed, from the usual
interest I manifest on political questions, that I
mast have felt an irresistible inclination to peruse
K hat had afforded such delight to both sides of
the llonourabk House, the Ins and the Outs.
But when I further declared, that such was the
apathy I felt about your speech, that I should
probably not read it at all, my friend's astonish.
ment was great indeed I !
I endeavoured to satisfy him by a very brief ex-
planation of my sentiments on the si,'a in
substance as follows :—" Mr. PONSONOY is, no
doubt, a man of very respectable talent, and I

should expect to receive both information and
pleasure from him, in the discussion of political
subjects in general. Ou this particular one, he
leas before avowed his opinion; and having al.
rens!), carefully attended to all that has been
urged on both sides, I feel that my mind is,unal.

teral►ly made up, and I shall certainly, to the la.
test day of my life, maintain that the late as.
&emptiest of power by the House of Commons,
under the vague claim of privilege, is at total va.
riance with the immutable principles of justice,
subversiye of the lawful and unalienable rights
of the people; entirely inefficient for any pretend-
ed gond purpose, either now, or hereafter ; and
that the perseverance its such a pretension is a
great aggravation of the violence that has been
committed; and any arguments in defence thereof,
a downright insult and mockery of. common

sense 11"
The Gentl►►man to whom I addressed these ob.
servationi, and who, I verily believe, yields
to scarcely any man in the kingdom for sound'
judgment, candour, and impartiality, very sea.
sonably suggested that we ought never to be obsti.
nate. " You perceive (said he), that many sen.
siblo men differ from abut, and which, I own, is
entirely my, opinion on this subject. Read, and
hear all you can, as I do, against our opinion,
and especially. Mr. POSSONUY'S speqcb, because it
should seem, from the triumphant manner of ifs
being applauded, that it comprises the whole dc.
fence that the House of Commons is capable of
bringing forward. It surely, therefore, is enti-
tled to the must deliberate and respectful atten.
lion."

The deference I always feel towards wise and
virtuous men, very readily determined my adop-
tion of the advice of my friend ; and I feel con.
scions of having brought to my aid, that temper
which is always indispensibiy requisite fur the re-
search after truth. -The•result has • been, if pos-
sible, a deeper conviction of the usefulness of my
first opinion. I will, however, in return for the
pleasure of reading this speech, offer a few com.
ments upon it, which I premise by borrowing *
phrase from the Editor of an excellent Sunday
paper, who facetiously and very justly remarks,
that it is, 66 redolent of the wig and gown."
With respect to argument, it is an abase of
words to apply such a term to a tissue of .the most
miserable sophistry. The essence of this bombas-
tic nonsense is -shortly this. " The !louse of
ommons has always hail, and therefore must con-
tinue to have undefined privilege. The House
may, to any extent, abuse or misapply this pow.
cr ; but in the exercise of it. discretion is, and
must be, superior to any contrite!. This privilege,
which is intended fur the benefit of the pcoide,
must not be resisted, if occasionally turned against
them, because when the House of Continuns shall
become what it ought to be, it will be iiiilispensi-
.bic for the protection of the constitution, against
the usurpations and encroachineots of the Crown.
There must be a discretionary power in every
government."

Now, really Sir, this doctrine has nothing of
novelty in it, for arbitrary notions have always
bcen too prevalent. For my own part, I have not
penetration enough to imagine any thing more'
completely liberticide than the principle on which
it proceeds ; " a vigour beyond the lure." nap.
pily, however, the gross and palpable absurdity
upon the face of it, is an antidote to the deadly
poison it, in vain, einleatours to conceal. Be
assured, that this parliamentary logic will al.
ways, as it has lately done, require the aid of an
army. •

In the name of common sense, -what do such
arguments mean ? They are as applicable to one
sort of despotism as another, and might as reason.
ably be urged for the discretionary power of is..
stiln..l " Lettres dc Cacha," as in support of a
lawless House of Commons. When, inked, the
aria that should be raised for our protection in.
fiefs the mortal stab, ,we may exclaim, with in.
creased horror, "Et to brute !"

I 'hall n priiiced.(deettring, in the first
nt.re, that I entertain not a particle of personal
hostility towards Mr. irolisonaT) to remark upon
what is strikingly prominent throughout his els-
bOrate speech. 'I must presume, Sir, that yeti
were not yourself aware of being' su entirely an.
der an influence that I would nut willingly attri.
bute to you ; but I have nu hesitation in saying,
that I never read any thing that had such an ap,
pearance of a place-hunting speech. In the ser.
vile adulatory strain, in which it attempts to
please in a certain quarter, I venture to offer it
as a specimen, which leaves at a distance the best
efforts of the " No Popery" set, when they
conceived they should feel themselves more com-
fortable by exchanging situations with the 66 Ta-
lents."

In one part of your speech the laudable, digni.
bed, and patriotic sentiment is expressed, in
speaking of the King and People, that 66 you
will serve lubth, but flatter neither." You have
kept your word. "It should seem that his pre.
sent Majesty is the only King who ever prpperly
loved a House of Commons." This, to be sure,
is any thing but flattery, and I trust will be in.
dignaotly repelled in the quarter to which it is
addressed. Come forward, Mr. Postsosay, and
upon your word, as a man, declare whether you
do or do not believe, that the most tyrannical and
weak Prince of tho House of STUART, however
moth his views were thwarted by such a House
of Commons as he had to deal with, would have
had any objection to o►ne of a certain construe.
lion, and " co.flected together by means which it
is unnecessary to describe." Du, Sir, have the
candour to say whether you think that wretched
bigot JAMES 11. would not have loved such a Par.
liament ?

In the prefatory part of your speech you, with
great sagacity, anticipate that it may possibly
render you unpopular ; most assuredly it will
have that effect, if the people of England are slot
ready, with the rest of the privations to which
they are doomed, to surrender their understand.
ing. I never again shall place confidence in Mr.
PoNsosny as a public character, and I sincerely
and conscientiously warn my countrymen against
him, as more dangerous than one of our open
enemies.

The glorious fabric of the Constitution of Eng-
land rests upon the only solid basis of freedom,
namely, the separation and independence of the
Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Powers. The
Litter has.gloriously maintained its character, and
pray Heaven it may prove immortal!! We shall
soon know the result of an attempt to rob Eng-
lishmen of the protection of law ! XV. it succeed,
we are slaves : 66 actunt est de nobis."

AN ENGUSIINIAN OF THE OLD SCHOOL.
Kay 19, 1810.

A person at Canterbury has been for some time
past prophesying the death of BONAPARTE ; ho
was to die on the lath of April ; the 16th April is
past, and ho is still alive. lie has now, accord.
ing to this prophet, N days added to his life from
the 16th April ; that is, he is to live till the Ist of
August.
Wo have much pleasure in obliging our Corres.
pondent at Bath by inserting the following excel.
lent Letter, which appeared in the Bristol Jour.
nut previous to the ElectiOn at Gloucester :

To the Freeholders of the County of. Gloucester,.
G navLe Ns offering to your attention a few candid
observations on the approaching, important period of electing
a Representative for our County (one to whom we delegate,
as Fieemen, a great trust, and one to wh se guardianship we
commit oar best interests), I shall use tes affected apology,
bemuse, in exercising a constitutional right, I trust noise will
ever be deemed necessary.—To every impartial and reelecting
mind it must be eyident, that the best and only remedy to avert
the evils that menace us, is a pure, constitutional, and inde-
pendent Repreeentation. You have now, Gentlemen, au op.
portunity of contributing to the attainment of such a deshaible
object, by exercising with constitutional independence your
elective franchise, and by giving (unbiassed by any misdeal,
but that of a wish to serve your country) your suffrages to
that num, who, addicted to no party; uninfluenced by any
interested views,', will, in its truest meaning, and most ex-
tended acceptation, be your Representative, the selected
Gua am AN of your RIGIITS nod best IsTERESTS. In uct-
ing thus, you will 90 an example worthy of imitation.
Ours,Gesidemeu, if we do our duty, is no easy tack; and
the times we live Ware unprecedented in the muds of history.
We are beset with danger, both external and internal ;
own I have must to dread from our internal ones. Giglintic
as the power of our enemy is, and which is still augmenting
(and, to be convinced of this, we owed only take a retrospec-
tive view of the once Geographical Map of Europe) yet
we have no reason on this bead to despond. Let me, brother
Freeholders, impress on your minds. that our Army, howe-
ver great—our P 4 av y. however mighty—nor even our Com-
merce and Wealth. which we so much [mild on—cull Mime
save us from the impending Worm which tareatens u', and has
overwhelmed 'natty of our mice independent neighbouring
States All these auxiliaries and safeguards, great as they are,
will, Gentlemen, be of no avail, unless accompanied and aided
by a commensurate spirit and union of ug ALL—by a radical
Reformation of /Ousts, which, by the lapse of time, and other
causes, have crept into our Constitution—and by an entire
aisanclonment of that System of Corruption and Venality, to
which fertile sources we alone attribute all our evils ; and
that selfishness which makes too many of us .sacrillee pub.
lie good to private aggrandizement.----Under this eon•
victim), and actuated by these impressions, I do assert, Gen-
tlemen, that it is the imperious duty oft he Electors implicitly
to deniand from the Candidate who s died, our suffrages, (let
him be a Whig or a Tory, a Blue or Ydlow, little matters,)'
Whether he scat, in his Senatorial character. promote a free
and adequate Itepresettlation of the People in Parliament—
vote for the 4bulition p f all Sinecure Places, and unmet ited
Pensions—watch with a vigilant eye over the Esp.:radii:4re of
Public Money. and whether he will.

" Vimlac'd, unpension'd, no Man's Heir or Slave,"
guard ur consli:utional digits and privileges, coeval with
our unmet, front undue encroachments and dangerous in-
novstions? LI kakis we put then candid questions, soul receive
3 corresponding reply, I have no hesitation, as a Freeholder
and one of yourselves. in sa)ing, we shall not do our duly,
and what- the imminent and critical state of our country so
loudly demnads of us,
I write uut this Inaspirit to dictate; far otherwise= I have
only discharged my duty in stating them sentiments with con-
stitutional freedom, and ;men exercising a right, the use of
which t will ever claim, and never shrink from.
I asp, Gentlemen, and Brother Freeholders,
With nil due sentiments, yours, Ike.
w4Lrhat 110\Y WOOD YAMS.
Bristol, May 9,1810,

(c.tprAlN FOSKETI4,
"..11111.... •
Preparatory to the dfscuisiOn of Oaptaie Fos-
arrr's case In the Berrie of Coramens, that Gen.
tlernan has published a justification of his conduct,
in the two points on which he was attacked by
General CRAWFORD ; namely, the duel in which
be acted as second, and his own efficiency as an
an officer of the Fifteenth Light Dragoons. We
cannot enter at large into either% of these topics,:
but shall extract the most important of the doers.
ments he adduces in his own support.
Upon the subject of ths duel, he has the testi.
mony in writing of all the other parties—the two
principals, the other second, and likewise.that- of
another gentleman to whom the circumstances,
previous to the meeting, were knonn, that he coo.
ducted himself with propriety and humanity. The
following is-the letter of Mr. Nrcssom, the other
second ;
Dewit Stn. New Road, 'lsth May, 1310.
In coosequenee of what l stated to have passhd In thel
thrice of Commons, respecting, the duel between Lieutenant,
Wallace and Cornet Russ, to whom we were seconds, t think
it incumbent on me to state the facts as they literally were.
From the correspondence that parsed between those gentlemen,.
Iselare we wore acquainted with the circumstance matters
were carried. lousy opinion, to such an extremity (as their let-
ters will prftve). that all amicable interference.on our parts
proved inejfectual. It has been asserted that hair triggers were
used, which I most positively deny. Five shots were exchang-
ed ;—they commented atihe distance at ten.paccs, and after the
first three rounds; the distance was shortened to eight ; and I
here coatradkt the reports in circulation, as to their advancing
a pace after each shot ; they never tired at a less distance than
eight;—it was the fourth shot, Lieutenant Wallace's pistol
went of while our backs were turned; and I do not hesitate
ileeloriog stow, as I did tbeu his secoad),- that it should
go for a shot. Is consequence of the business being extended
to this unusual length, we at last prevailed on these gentlemen
to inert half way and shake bands, After the honourable
way this atair was settled, I am astonished to God any blame
could he attempted to be attached to you; and I think it 'but
justice to you, and happy sun. I to have it io my power to
state, that your conduct, on that occasion, was as correct and
as honourable as possible t and I t4l/1110i hal' add, that soi
were particularly an.auar fee on arataabas adjustment.
I am, inv dear bir,
To Captain Foskett, Your*, obediently.
15th Light Dragoons, M. NICKSON.
As to his general efficiency as an officer, Capt.
Fosarrt has likewise the testimony of the Field
Officers of his regiment in his behalf. All their
letters, too, he publishes. We have room only
for two or three ; the rest are, however, precisely
of the same tenor, except those of Major Lanett
and Lieutenant-Colonel 'Serum's, who declitse
giving their testimony; the former, lest his, letter
should be brought forward in opposition to the
wishes of one to whom he is tinder great oblige.
tion ; the latter, as ho ortpst " either hurt Captain
FOSILETT'S feelings or Illy in the faceof the Dike
is of CUMBEaLANO." The following is a speci.
met' of the tenor of the rest of these letters :
Ipswich. 2d November, 'WS.
Being called upon to state my sentiments, with regard to
your duty as an Odicer during the period 1 had the honour
to serve in the 15th, 1 have no hesitation in saying. I always
considered you an active, zealous. iutellient Officer; and,
under those circumstances, if at any time Thad the command
of the regiment, I should certainly have recommended yon
in your turn fur purchase.
I have the honour to he,
Sir, your mast obedient bumble Servant,
To Capt. Foskett, W. A YLETT,
15th Light Dragoons. Colonel I. F. 0.
MAK Sia, Woodbridge, Ist November, ISOS,
lam favoured with your letter of the 97th ultimo. lam
most happy to hove it in my power to hear testimony to your
zeal for the service, and exemplary ritedtion to those duties
which you have been to my knowledge required to pertorin.
Surely, it must be allowed such conduct merits promotion.
Believe nie, dear Sir,
To Capt. Foskett, Yours thlthridly,
15th Light Dragoons. G. ANSON',
• Col. and Lient.-Col. Queen's Li. Dragoons.
DEAR Fusgcsr, 9, Clifford-street, lath May,lBlo.
I only received late last night your's dated Apr.l 12th,
which, from its appearance, I fancy has been halfuver Eng-
land after me.
In answer to your question, whether I thought your troop
as fit for service as any other troop in the regiment, when or-
dered to embark for Spain, I most certainly cannot hesitate
to declare, I thought your troop perfectly fit for service;
and had the selection of the troops tor service been left tome,
you, and your troop, most certainly should have embarked;
cnd I further beg to add, as my opinion of your general con-
duct, (which I have repeatedly said to your diFerent Com-
manders) that a more honourable man, or a more zealou- offi-
cer, during the ten years I served with you in the 15th regi.
meat, in my humble opinion, does not exist.
Believe me, ever your's,
Most altbfully,
F. FORESTER:
(Late Major 15th Light Dragoons.
ROEI I. II UN I.
It will be recollected, that when his Majesty's
hounds hunted on the Thursday in Easter week,
the celebrated deer; called the Hendon Deer, was
so extremely fleet, that he was lost ; and although
repeated attempts have been made by the King's
huntsmen and yeomen packers, with the hounds,
and frequently with a numerous 'assemblage of
gentlemen, they could not find him till list Serer.
day, though they beard of him in different parts of
Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. After several
hours pursuit on Saturday, the hounds found him
in a small wood near East Burnham, in Bucking.
hamshire.
On his being started, he showed great sport' i
across the country, nearly in the same direction Ali
when he was turned Out for the day's diversion on
Stock Common, on the day he was lost. llecon.l
dolled thy chase fur upwards of seven hours hard
mooing, taking his course into Oxfordshire, near
Sherborn Castle, to the left, near Benson, making
a double back by Stoking Church, and was at
length taken within four wiles of Great Marlow,
in Buckinghamshire. When 110,,iva,s taken, there
was only one gentleman sportsman, Mr. Tehbott,
who was up with the huntsman and yeomen prick_'
era. Every horse and rider was completely knock-
er' up. gotwithstanding it had been seven jiours
of the hardest running ever known, the deer would
not have been taken when he was, had he not got
entangled with a large hedge stick, which ran into
his-shoulder.
The Pantheon, Oaford.street, will -exhibit, on
the Ist of June, a novel and interesting sight.'
The Inventor of the Rep' Lancastrian System of
Education will Lecture there, and a School of 300
children, governed by a bey of fifteen, will illus-
trate the subject of the Lecture by going through
a variety of school evolutions.

It would seem, by the very great demand ex.
perienced at the Offices of RICHARDS" GOOD-
mica, and Co. for Tiikets and Shares in'the pre.
sent Lottery, that the üblic are of opinion, that
as Fortune dispensed Two of the Great apital
Priges in the last Lottery, through thdir hands, so
she means to continue her favours thrunghthe same
channel.

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