The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-05-24 00:00:00

ANNIVERSARY OF SIR FRANCIS BURDETT'S

ELECTION. •

The 23d bf May is a day, which will ever be
held sacred in the calendar. On this day, three
years ago, the influence of corrupt Ministers re.
ceived a check which prevented its operation in
the way most dangerous to the liberties of the
country. Fur a long period the populous city of
Westminster had, under the malign influence of
evil administrations, been degraded almost to a
level with the luniest borough, and the servile ser-
vants of the Crown uniformly possessed the means
of returning their own creature as its supposed
Representative. Reason revolted at the. idea of
enduring a system founded on tame submission.
The Electors of Westminster wanted, aedlippi.
ly found in Si! F. Burdett, a man who was as able
as he was willing to assist them in breaking their
chains. They set a noble example, which, if fol-
lowed, will be adeqnate to the correction of all
those abuses and oppressions that have nearly de.
prived Englishmen of their ancient character.
The morn, which dawned on the Antsiversaaly
of the Election of this great and tlistinguisted pa.
triut, at all times would have been bailed with
transports of joy and gratitude, but recent cir-
cumstances rendered its celebration yesterday
more than ordinarily interesting. The recollection
that this virtuous man had, in humble imitktion of
the Divine Author of the Christian Religion,
without any personal motive, sacrificed himself
for the good of-lithers, and bad braved and sta-
ked imprisonment, in order that his conntrymen
might eventually be free, excited Impressions that
could not fail to impart a solemnity and dignity to
the proceedings of the ElVetors of Westminiter,
which, under other cireentstanecs, would tut
have characterizetrtheir Meeting.
Let every coney and eity in this mighty king.
don) profit by the lemma. they have received from
the Electors of Westminster, and the eursAry
may yet be saved.
About five hundred pettapVllllllol4ll
.0 00
Crown' and Anchor Tavern fte ,lam ' "of
dining together, and testifyiets4hae:
aii=
SO 13 da.
meats to their Representative, who had y
*night their battles against the enemies of the;
Constitution. A stinsptuous dinner was provided.
Plenty, 'hilarity, and 'festivity, pre4ded at the.
various tables which were spread, ma the attend.
ants of *joy and good. humour stood at the right
band of .every visitant. After tht cloths were re-
moved,
Lord CObIIRANE rose, and gave as a tout,
The KING, and the Principles which seated his Family
up:tithe Throne,
with three times three.
It was drank with becoming ardour, and with
epproptime expressions of approbation.
An Elector then rose in the middle of the room,
and proposed this toast,
We.tolinster's Pride and England's Hope, Sir FRANCIS
BURDETT,

With three times three, lotul and continued hes-
VIS, anti thunders of applause for nearly JO mi.
notes.
Mr. JONES BURDETT.—Gentlemen, in ris.
ing to address you, I must, in the first place, put
its my claim for your generous indulgence. I dare
nut attempt—l cannot thank you in language
adeqoate to the occasion, or sufficiently expressive
of the sentiments which press upon my miatl, on
witnessing the diitiugoislied mark you have just
given of your approbation of the conduct of Sir
Francis Burdett.—[Plaudits.]—l must, in order
to convey any idea of my feelings, appeal to those
sentiments by which you are animated, and by
which you are inspired in favour of the glorious
cause you are here met to wress your opinion of,
and your determination to support. I must .ask
you to place yourselves in my situation. I must
appeal to your own hearts and feelings, and ask
you what they would suggest, were you in the
situation I am in, witnessing so honourable a us.
lemony of the character of one to whom I NA so
Dearly and dearly allied—[Very great applanie.)
—a relation whose motives I so well know, in
whose feelings and sentiments I so deeply partici.
pate, and with whom, in all the principles he has•
asertcd, I so completely concur. Ido so, Gen.
tlemen, bceauso I believe they are principles
%which must be acted upon W we look to the ulva.
tiun of the country. They are, lam convinced,
the only principles which man tend to the safety of
the Throne, and maintain the rights and liberties
of Use People.—[Loud and universal applause.],
—lt will, Gentlemen, lam persuaded, give l
all satisfaction in the first place to learn Avail
my brother, Sir F. Bartlett, enjoys his usual health'
and good spirits. [Shouts of satigfaction, and
reiterated acclamation: of joy.) Gentlemen, he
is strung in the justice of his and your cause, he'
never will vela]; in his exertions to maintain the
kw, of the land) and to support the rights and
berties of the people of the country. I must
now advert to the sullied and occasion of our
meeting. We are, Gentlemen, assembled to eels.'
orate the anniversary of *tat day, which wail a,
proud triumph cot only for°lhe Electors of
Limier; but the peopte of ralglitad. The Electors

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example by the prudence, wisdom, and modera.
tion with which they asserted their rights ; they
have shewu the people of Engik,d that they know
their rights—that they wilereise them. with
firmness, but that at the same time they will exer.
cise them with prudence and moderation. It is-a
tribute duo to them to acknowledge that their
glorious effoits have bad an influence and effect
upon the country at large; their example has been
felt through the country, and we shall all reap the
beneficial effects of it. Gentlemen, much has
been said about party and no party, sod It has
been a charge brought against many who have ad.
vocated the public interests, that they were de.
siroui of supporting the public cease without
themselves being attached to any particular party
whatever. Now, Gentlemen, the charge of being,
attached to tie pert, is a amp 1 think send and
peculiar in its stature, peoffeeihreireieffllle *Moot
that men should be chassis's litisivtg.hoso guilty;
of an offence for making duly the poblic intoreat
the line of their conduct, is a charge Oa isnot erk.
traordinary nature. In illy opinion thaigg.side.
men who say that they do nut with, liti- elit '
party distinctions, mean to say wethkgellaslit
I that sun wish honest men to act forlileCpeillie
good ; they do not attempt tout, .
have virtue superior to other'
no boast of the kind ; they only 411_1411 si
lt*:
and feel an interest its the laws of Ile, -4. '
that they wish to endeevoar to prillsittlinii 'c
robbery, and take care that the money 'voted for
the public services shall be applied to those bend.
eial purposes for whith it was intended ; they do
'not like to be robbed and plundered —they do not
like the means of the country to be squandered
1 by persons who arc in the enjoyment of useless
.places, pensions, and sinecures—they do not sap:
prove of the abuses under which the country
groans—they do not like these things, or the Inca
who shew an inclination to support them. It bail'
also bees observed that a part of the people do
not took up to the House of Commons with the
telepect which it behoves them to do, lied is Weans:
ing the dignity of the House of Commons. Now;
flontlenien, I conceive that the House of Cons.
wino sever can receive any injury from those
le which they say are circulated against
Or (rout those reproaches on the part of
'thirlpsiapie whisk are the result of their own con.
. alpinot the penple.--i-Gentlemen, Tali
1106 St Of COMMONS NEVER ClN'4lO
ibIMMLADICI) RUT BY THEIR OW!,
4013. LOW omit hutment plaudits. . Entry
,„111111111.. 111111a.8111$ to stisisew.esisk this sepia_
itioist.j heir own acts are the fair criterion by
'bleb they might to be judged, and in looking to
SOW of those acts we shall be able to determine
how far they may be deserving of the public con..
Ideate and good opinion. I will not attempt to
ieumerate all the acts ,o hich have been sanctioned
by the losthovity of the House of Commons ; I
will Oftiy mention that disastrous and ever to be
d deplete expedition to Waleheren, the calamities
~
of which must be so recent in your memory—an
expedition in which so many of your brave sul. ,
diers were destroyed, less by the sword than a
pestilential climate—the health of the survivors
1 rained—the resources of the country uselessly
squandered, and tire country sustaining disgrace
and a loss of national honour, which it will never
be in the power of Ministers to restore.' [Never,
never—not al least of oar present Ministers.}—.
Another of the acts of the House of Commons,
we shall also never cease to remember ; it has made.
an impression upon the public iiiiitd which is not
to be effaced. When Mr. • Maddocks offered to
prove at the Bar of the House of Comitioua that•
seats were bought and sold, he was refused a hear.
ing.--When Lord Castlereagh and Mr. Perccval
were proved to have committed the highest crime
which could be perpetrated against the laws of the
country—a species of treason against the sacred
statutes of the land, the House of. Commons re.,,
fused to attaud to the just complaint of an offended ,
natio', or to Juliet the punishment which the de.,'
lintluoll*MassiNtaf • on the Contrary, they acquit.
led these Ministers of all Mime. Such, Gentle.
men, have been the sets wtich the /loose of
COnignOps bee. sanctioned. They offered as ati
mese fke theft amoduet that the offencii had been
-so repeatedly' eimieeineil, that it' had been lio re.
pettedly etionhvil it, that it been committed
over and.over agoin, and hid been suffered with
ee smelt impunity hat ittioglit in the instance of
these two public Ministen not to, be taken notice
of. Gentlemen, Lord Caittereagh and Mr. Per.
revel have committed these high crimes against the
country ; they have injured, insulted, and op.'
pressed, the people, but they still Wain their si.
tuations—they are still at the Gado! the Govern.
merit---they are admitted' to the councils of their
Sosereig4i, and are loaded with rewards and ho.
noun; these sreat violators of this laws are en.
counted hi their crimes, while the poor criminal
who perhaps from necessity steals a few shillings,
is mmilenmed to lose hit life. I cannot help, with
reference to this subject, alluding to the words of
our celebrated poet :
w Moe sin wing geld, aitaithe Imes of Justice
, ,
straw
• • It.
Ttrebk this, let as only advert to the proceedings
whk% have taken place with respect to Mr.
Yorke. Mr. Y orke, though be committed an out.
rage upon the public feeling,- though he acted in
' Oposithor to the feelings of the nation at large,
this same • Mr. Yorke was taken into the favour,
of Ministers—is himself Converted into a Minister
--is railed to.one of the highest situations in the


T 24, 1810.

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'y, and is allowed to assist in directing and
governing us. [Vehement expressions of indigna-
tion.] Gentlemen, evidently, in addition to the
opposition of Ministers to every thing like the
correction of abuses, there is a determination
never to yield to the people any thing like a Re-
form in Parliament. Such are the acts•by which.
we are to judge of •the House of Commons; and
I wish any impartial man to say, whether by
such acts they do not stand self-condemned 1 I
must leave it to the opinion of the public, to de.
cide upon the question, and to approve or disap.
prove of what I have asserted. So much has
been said,, so much has been ably written on the
subject of those :privileges which are laid claim
to by the House of Commons, that I hardly
think it necessary to mention my, opinion to you.
From the literary productions of eminent men,
which have beep laid WWlyott its isisious.alsapea,
In Newspapers, Pamphlets, and other works, it
has been, I think, proved to you, thatit is *boo.
lately impossible, nay, that it is monstrous and
absurd that the House of Commetia should be el.
lowed those extraordinary privileges, which they
pretend" they are entitled to, bat of which they ac-
knowledge they du not knew the extent. [Great
(geplante.] it appears to me that the argument
does out lay.wide, but that it may be reduced to
a marrow compass, and confined so a few contd.
durations. The written laws, or in other winds,
the statute laws of the land, are-to form the guide
and rule of our conduct ; eithet they are in fore.
or they are not. If they are to force, surely no.
man will say that we must not abide by them', and
snake them the guide for our conduct. Now, I
ask any man to read the'clause of Magna Charts,'
which. says, that " no freeman shall be taken or
imprisoned, • or disseised of his free tenement, or
of his liberties or free customs, or endured or
banished, or in any manner destroyed, unless by
the judgment of his Peers, or the laws of the
land." There are *thee statutes to the same per.
pose, which go in confirmation of the Great Char.
ter. The Statute of 4,8(11 Edw. 111. declares, that
4.4 no man ought to be condemned without being
called upon to answer the chergeimputed to him."
The 25th of the same King matte, " that theism.
Ikea that have confided to them thiiinterpreMtion
of the lan's shall allow the amp charter as the
common law." In the reigeetif Charles 11. It is
enacted, referring to. Magna Cherie, and the Acts
in eonformation of it, in these terms—" We will/
that if any judgment. be Orin, contrary tas .the
Charter aforesaid; it shall beandone, and held fur
nought." I really should be gladif bay Mower.
at ke seta barof t Ise House of Persian,. if any
of these Privileged Gentlemen,. would explain to
me how the laws I have mentioned can be consist.
ant with the claims of these unlimited and end&
tilled privileges they pretend are in force. We
are told in Magna Charts, and the laws confirming
it, that we are nut to be imprisoned except by the
judgment of our Peers, which means, without
trial by jury ; but what do the House of Coin.
mans say ? the House of Commons say that ere
shall have no trial.; they say they will send for us
to their, bar; that whatever we may say, or *has.
ever we may write, they will Interpret It accord-
ing to their own understanding of the subject
matter, and send us to prison at their pleasure.
'These things, I say, pre inconsistent with Magna
Charts, aud either the one or the Other must be.
groundless, and without any authority. Either
these sacred laws must b taken to have been re-
pealed, or the claims of the House of Commons
cannot be admitted. Gentlemen, I will now only
Mention another instance to you. ln the reign
of Henry the Seventh, we all knout that Empson
and Dudley, two of the King's Ministers, parti.
ciliated inmost scandalous transactions; and that
their infamous conduct was highly injurious to, the
best interests of the country. In their scandalous
career they were supported and backed by Parlia-
ment, • and by the authority of the House of
Commons. Now_ mark what happened after.
wards: In the first year of Henry VIII. the Act
in support of the conduct of Empson and Dudley
was repealed, and, they were hanged, notwith.
standing they had been before supported by an
It'd of Parliament. It is recited in the Act of
Henry VIII., which repeals the Act of Henry
VII., that it had been manifestly shewn, that
many false informations and accusations had been
brought forme-LI against divers of the King's shh.l
jects, to their grievous oppression ; ,and that it
was intended that the ill success of the oppres.
sors of the people should deter others from the
like conduct, and should admonish Parliament of
the danger of resorting to TRIALS 1,31? DIS-
CUSSION, instead of trials per legeos term.—
Now, Gentlemen, it has been endeavoured to be
maintained, that the words per legem terrw afford
a fair opportunity for including within their im.
ports, scope, and meaning, the privilege of • Par.
liament.—[Conlemptuoul burst: of laughter.]
It is impossible, in my opinion, to maintain such
a doctrine—:the words per legens terns cannot
be construed to have any inference to the pri.:
vileges of Parliament.--and for this -reason
Magna Cherie was enacted before the House
of Commons had any power or privilege whet-
ever of the nature now contended, for. Gen.
tlemen, I will not new take up more of your
time upon this subject, as it has already boot :so
well and solidly discussed in the able, eloquent,
and constitutionalspeech of Lord Eiskine, in the:
House of Lords. His manly spirit and noble et.]
erti;tns in yaor glorious cause, I have no language
to do justice to. 1114 exerciom are felt and up-.
ereciated by the Public, anti the Public will ever
feel•gratefui fur and obliged by the stand he has

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PRlCEitfir;

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made in support of their dearest rights. [Rel.
:crated plaudits.] Gentlemen. I cannot help la.'
matting that we are still destined to remain un.
der that treinendous and dreadful system which is
supported.by the Borottgh.mongering Faction, and
ilas already proved so calamitous to the country.
I am sorry to say there does not appear to be any
iticlittation •on the part of Parliameut to grant
'that Reform in the Representation, which the pub.
lie so much desire. [True, Mr. Brand's *la-
dles is a proof of Md.] It is notorious to
You all how the House of Commons is at pro.
lent constituted. You well know how the Bo-
tretegh.mongering System is carried art—it is a
let, which permits those Noble Lords wk.
iefluenee in corrupt boroughs, to put in
. ,
r grooms if they chose to di so, and seed them
IParlisment among the Representatives of the
Ittithey may nominatesoute ettorbey'subser.
r
slant to•their will, 'practised in corruption, and
astettle do whatever they may command him,—
.16% they may wren nominate the barber of thi
!Irish to be a number of Parliament if they please;
there Is nothing to prevent them. It is dreadfel to
see the sacred rights of the people thus trampled
toen,. the real Privileges of Parliament turned
into ridicule, and justice and Titlee trampled en.
der foot by those who ought to vindicate and
maintain the Public cause. I have now, Gentle.
men, only to thank you for the patianee and at.L
tendon with which you have heard me, lad to
crimes my regret that Sir Francis Burdett could
not be present among you. He would hive re.
joked to have met the Electors of Westminster)
who accord so strongly and fully with his prie.
(epics and feelings. [Reiterated ecclassetionst
44 ell! tee do indeed accord "Pith bins !] 1 hope
the time will not bo long when he will once more,
bete the happiness of being amongst ul-.-it will
atot,bousere to his satisfaction, than, I eat per.
sashed, it will be to yours. Gentlemen, ai the
same time it is a source of satisfaction to my mind
that you feel no particular disadvantage by his ab.
mince on this day ;—the Chair is so well tilled by hit
sobleColicague, that I am sere Sir F. Burdett
himself can Wino regretat thecircumstances which
have prevented him from being present. I set
not going to make any observations upon the vim
'Wes of that Noble Lord,; I will not &neat upon
ids public video, because I we inadequate to do '
jadeite to them ; the Electors of Westminster,
Gentlemen, have the satisfaction, I may say the
guile satiefaelion, of knowing that they Mee
*Warned to Parliamont two hottest men [bursts qf
.bpplaisse]: they have chosen two men to repro-
mit them, who eat In women and unison tore*,
in sepport of the Laws end Constitution of the
land. It Is a greet and glorious advantage, • hich
they could not boast of for many years before,
that by the exertion of their independence they
have shaven two Representatives who have the
same feelings and the same common interest. In
general, you. have had one representative acting
one way, and one the other; the one supporting
you, and the other Ministers. I think it is a con.
siderablc advantage to the Electorii, as well as, the
couutry, that you have two men steadily acting to.
gether; and you have not more to expect from Sir
Francis Burdett than from the glorious exertions
which have been made, and the patriotic virtues
which have been displayed by his colleague, the
Noble Lord, for the good of his country. Gen.
denten, I am very thankful for the patient hear:
in you have given, and without further [retina:
jug on your time, I shall conclude" with a toast);
which I am sure you will drink with enthusiasm)
because tee subject of it is one which cannot bit
beAlear to your hearts. Gentlemen* I give you

The Electron of Westminster, with three times ibtee.
The toast was drank with siii>uts of applause.
A Song was then .called' for from Mr. Smalley:
The theme was the virtues of Sir Francis Burdett,
and it was sung with Spirit-mid animation.
Mr. STUltCll.—Gentlemri►, I am very on•
willing to be the interrupter of your eins;ivialityi
and I hope I shall not be considered in that lisht
if I use the privilege of an old Elector for Warta
minster, and offer you a few words in consti.atinCel
of the last toast you hate given, in honour tif the.
Electors of Westmineter. Gentlemen, what I
mean to do is, in a few Words, to fellow up the►
idea of the brother
whom we are proud
[bNrsts'bf applause]
his speech wherein he
be Imputed as a sin '
k is a sentiment in' wn..
have to offer my congriti
present, that they have '"
be represented by I
both zealously, ana
the cause of the'Pete
&Won.] Gentlemen.
Westminster, which
durably more then
venture to say that
had two Members at
were decidedly the Frt
perhaps fin. a very short
instance when they .
their own popularity,
their being connected
erful by its influence
moment I am 'speaking
*tour, the dingelar honour,
presentstives, *hose ii..--
spond With our o'
Befere my time, I have no
much the,sa'ce in W
till we made a noble
and privileges. We

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. 1323. , r qi
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Irkit4..' , 21," LONDON, THURSD.4IY, MAY
VESTIBANTEIi MEETING. !or Westminster hare offered a• grand and noble 1 country, and ics.

of the Honourable Haionet,
nd to call our reprvientatird
r]; particularly in that part of
lie stated, thatit ought not Le
to any men to be of ao partyt. •
• which L heartily concur.
ongritulatfana to the Elattotl
lase tiff heppines4 this darilat
two sale Members, ilistittlalk
I I kelklia hoisted,' 4etiselitt4 ,
ipti. tignprinwiestis4l49%
en, doting my lung le
•
embreces a period. 4 p;0212146
forty, years, I think. I erey
we Mete scarociy rk *lf timi •
st 'entre tekesenting tit* lA,
Fritods of the P 11.04 040
hurt tints; and even that wit sp
were elected, not act Mack for
ty, is tram the ciretinistinee ot
ed with s poly that Wes poWa
re 'in the country t hut' of the
klng.to yens we hate that hi+
humour, of possessing t*4 ,
se sentiments entirely
_eeteen .
)wn. Et/ferrets dppittnatil'
have n 9 doubt that things were
Westminster as they reetalea
le Wed In defence of owe i It
re hitosoir the honour to bi