The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-12-16 00:00:00

TRP. STATitsVAN.

Win. Pickering

Deputy Brooks
Henry Hurls
J. E. Grubb
James Cade
tOOK.
Vassal Williams
w.. Parse
c!miss Almger
. P. Sills

VIAL]
Thome Margray
Thomas Bell
Robert Ashby

Lord Mayor - 1
Aldermen - b
Coameeers - 94

Aldermen - - 14
Carmen - UM

bigjoritv ageism the
of December

lik)

117

Addiess as voted ea the
- - 17

LORD GRENVILLE.

The following Address was circulated by the
friends of Lord Cittenvit.t.e, daring the last days
of the Election at Oxford, and deserves to be re.
sordid for the manly and indepeadeot language
which it breathes, contrastell with the. unfair ar.
lifices of his opponents. Those who remember
Lord GRENVILLeS letter to the Secretary of the
Society for the Propagation of Christian Know.
ledge, given to the Public soon after the forma-
tion of the present Administration, and while the
public agitation respecting the question of Catho.
tic Emancipation was at its height, will not fait to
recognise, in this dignified and temperate Address,
the author ante Unanswerable publication :

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

lIIIIDATI DIICENIfiIt l 5) 1809.

The Court assembled this diy, in compliance
with a Requisition signed by several of the Corn.
mon Councilmen, for the purpose or re-consider-
ing the Address to his Majesty, proposed and ac.
ceded to at the last Court.

The LOUD MA TOR took the Chair shortly after
14, but the business of the Meeting was not com-
menced till nearly one, in consequence of the nun.
attendance of the Members.

The proceedings of the last Court were then
read, and after some private business the attention
of the Court was called by
Mr. JACKS,who spoke to the following effect :
--" My Lord Mayor, certain newspapers having
stated, that on Wednesday last, in the speech I
delivered in this Court, some intemperate expres-
sions were used by me towards a Learned Barris-
ter, I think it proper to state that I am not aware
such words were so grossly expressed as have been
represented. As, however, some of my friends
recollect that I did use language capable of an im-
proper construction, I am induced to state in
this Court, that I am extremely sorry that in
the warmth of debate, any words escaped me,
which in the remotest degree could tend to hurt
the feelings of that Gentleman. —Your Lordihip
sad the Cnert w►tll, li trill, do me the credit to

admit, that it has never been my practice to de-
scend to personalities in debate towards its Mem.
hers, •r to any individual ; and I most earnestly
wish to disclaim every seotin►ent of that descrip-
tion. As I have not the hoounr to know the
Gentleman, it is impossible for me to have had de-
liberately an Intention to insult think it
'proper further to state, that this declaration arises
solely from my own reflections •n the subject, and
not from the represensation of that Gentleman or
his friends. I called un a Worthy Gentleman
(Mr. Walthmau) as the friend of the Learned
Barrister, to acquaint hint with my intentiuus.
This morning I observe, that the Learned Gentle-
elan has taken a singular revenge, tt a public
dinner, by slandering the motives which actuate
my public conduct ; nevertheless that has not al-
tered my desigo. I have only on this point to
observe, his assertions on that occasion were in n•
respect founded in reedit,; the concern in which
I embarked seven years ago a considerable pro.
party, has remained in all respects at the public
service of the army, for the last five years, fur
which it has been adopted ; and as three or four
successive Administrations have in that time taken
piece, 1 suppose even the calumny of party will
not charge me with being the tool of every one of
these Administrations. It appears only that as
long as a man thinks in all respects, and it has!
been in very few points 1 have ever thought or
tided but with that party, he is uncorrupt, but
the moment he takes the liberty to think fur him-
self he must necessarily be the reverse.
Mr. DIXON, observed, that if any gentleman
felt himslelf offended at being called an honest
Counsellor, he
_must &dia... achy bobworiocas the
' jealousy of his owe feelings might give rise to.
For his part, be did not think that any Isogrago
used by Mr. Jacks could be in the remotest dogma
offensive to Mr. Clifford.

Mr. WAITIIM AN deprecated in the strongest
ter:us, any personalities in that Court ; he said it
was highly improper to slander any gentleman,
but more especially gentlemen of the bar, whose
success in their profession depended on the intim-
peachability of their characters. Ho could not
help saying, however, that Mr. Clifford was most
foully slandered. de had no personal acquaint.
ante with the Learned Gentleman, but lie had ne.
ver heard that there was any thing in his conduct
which was not strictly constitutional, and guided
by the pyre dictates of an upright and honourable
heart. The Worthy Gentleman (Mr. Jacks) had
declared " that it, never was his practice to de.
trend to personalities," but he (Mr. Waithman),
had, on more occasions than one, an opportunity
of forming a very different conclusion. It was acorn.
mon practice amongst persons of his (Mr. Jacks)
principles to degrade those by invidious attacksi
whose principles were in opposition to their own,
and their apostasy was always marked by the
grossest slander against the persons whose cause
they bad previously espoused. In the present case
the most objectionable allusions had been made
without the smallest foundation.
Alderman COMBE objected to the time of the'
Court being occupied by any other business, than
that for which they were convened, and expressed
a hope-lista the matter for discussion would be int-
aisdlntely brought forward.
A long conversation now took place respecting
some irregutarity in issuieg the summonses for con.
vestiog the Court, in which anitliadversions were
passed on the clerks, and 'persons whose immediate
duty it was to see the orders of the Lord Mayor
complied with. •
Some propositions were made to adjourn the
Court till this day, on the ground of the Mem-
bers not having had regular notices, but they
were over-ruled, and the• business of the Court
proceeded.
RE-CONSIDERATION OF TUE ADDRESS.
The Loop MAYOR was then about to address •
the Court ou the subject of the Requisition, in
compliance with which the present Court was
summoned, which he said was signed by some of
the most respectable Alembers of the Court,
when
Mr. Sheriff ATKINS rose, and said, before
the requisition was read, he was anxious to make
a few observations on the inexpediency of the pre.
sent electing. After the merits of the Address
had under one a re-consideration, during a lapse
of eight hours, he could not see the grounds
upon which the Court was snmmoned a third{
time, nor did he sin any reason assigned in the
requisition. Whew he had taken the liberty
of applying ter a re-consideration of the first
Address, the renew he assigned was the lateness
of the hour when it was produced, which led
his to imagine that many of the Members h .d
gone away under an impression that no Atklres,
would he presented. And as he was anxious that
every Gentleman should bare a fair opportunity
rl CeSilidgrigg its media, is tishissetssi with

some friends, he deemed it necessary that another
Court shonid to assembled, the resurt of which
was a very full attendance, who, after the most
mature deliberation, resolved on the second Ad.
dress as most consistent with the dignity of the
City of London, and mote respectful to his Ma.
jesey. Under these circumstances he could nut
help depremting the present meeting. How is
the business ever to be settled, said he, if such
measures are to be tolerated ? laugh.) If he
could satisfy his mind of the necessity of the meet.
ing, he should not give any opposition ; but whea
117 persons had already given their opinion on the
subject, he thought it extremely ill-advised that
souther Court should be convened.

Mr. TADI)Y thought the last Address had been
brought forward in too hasty a :rummer, and had
been passed through the Court with a rapidity
very unusual on such occasions. He had a great
opinion of the ability of the worthy Sheriff (At.
tins), and was convinced, if the Address pro.
posed by him was referred to a t;onsinittee, he
would himself think some alterations were news.
eery ; and as it appeared the galena wish of the
Court that some other Address should be pre.
pared, be begged leave to move—
" That m Comosinee, consisting of all tbe Aldeninand•
Cotnetuner from each Ward sbould be appoinied as fenpasal
as Address and Petition to leis blajeasa."
Mr. SHARP ruse to second the Mode% Sid
in a speech of much warmth directed the attention
of the Court to the calamitous occurrences which
had marked the career of Ministers during their
Administration. lie particularly adverted to the
events In Spain, and the impulity of appointing
Lord Chatham to the command of the late dis.
graceful Expedition to Walcheren, by which the
lives of so many brave soldiers had been wantonly
sacrificed, and the wealth of the country dissi.
pated without any beneficial result. He trusted
the Court would not be deluded by any middle
anon, or be led to believe by specious argument
that Parliament would be induced, unsolicited, to
make those inquiries which the misfortuiles of
the kingdom proclaimed so indispensable. He
called on the Representatives of the City of Lon.
dun to convince the world that they were not to
be deceived by such shallow artifices. It was an
soUblished principle that the King could do• nn
/wrong; undoubtedly this was the case, because
Ministers were always responsible fur his conauct.
But if Alinisters were in the right, why was any
opposition given to the Inquiry so universally
ealled-ior ? He felt great pleasure in supporting
the Motion, and expressed an anxious desire that
the Committee should withdraw and bring forward
such an Address as would give satisfaction to all
parties.
Mr. LUCAS said, his objection to the former
Address ruse from several causes, amongst ethees
the condemnation of a gallant General, whose
conduct was certainly unobjectionabie on ally
public grounds. lie would undertake to prove
also, that the Expedition to Spain, which was so
strongly animadverted oe, kad been carried iota
.iiesse with the tlitainions acquiescence of that
Court. Aud, in order to substantiate this amen
tion, be begged leave to refer the Meeting to the
Address sent op to kis Majesty on the 20th of
July, in which they had not alone signified their
readiness to support hi. Majesty in his exertions
in favour of the brave Spaniards, but panegyrised
in the most glowing terms the honourable amid
dignified feelings which led to such a measure.
The worthy Gentleman then entered into an slob
borate defence of the conduct of Lord Welling.
ton in the assistance he afforded the Spaniards.
If his exertions were not attended with the-do.
sired effect, the misfortune was more attributable
to the Spaniards themselves, who kad shams
great pusillanimity, than to the gallant General,
who, if he had not made some exertions; would
,have stood a still greater chance of drawing spun
himself the animadversions of his count, y. He
concluded by expressing his approbation of the
second Address, and declaring his oppusitioo to
the motion of Mr. Teddy.
Alderman GOODBEHERE commenced by ob.
serving, that the honour and consequence of thee
Corporation was materially concerned in support..
iog the original Address. Ile then adverted to
the conduct of Alderman Atkins, in proposing
a requisition for a secund meeting. Such coo.
duct, he said, was contrary to the dignity of
lime Court, and a gross calumny on a consider.
able number of the Members of the Commies
Council. He then entered into a spirited visa.
cation of the original Address, which, he said, ball
been carried in the fairest possible manner. tubed
been slid, that one of the grounds of objection to
it was, that his Majesty had not been treated with
due respect. He would ask where was the
propriety of going up to the Sovereign, and In
an independent maiiirer stating the abuses which
existed, and the disastrous failures whisk bad
followed the impolitic 'measures of the preemie
administration ? His Majesty, however, was
surrounded only by flatterers, and the truth eel.
dom reached his Royal ear. He exhorted the
Court to go back from wheoce they had set out,
prepare a new Address, and; thus prove, that they
were not to be trapped by the artful contrivance
of Ministerial influence. By such conduct they
yeand prove their independence, support the
dignity of their character, and do honour to the
Corporation.
Mr. SPENCER opposed the Motion; and
said be thought the Address proposed was nut
a new Atldrrits, bet merely the original ewe
amended.
Mr. GRIFFITHS said, he thought the subject
had already been too much debated. Ile begged
the Court would not suffer it to go abroad that
they were 'quibbling• about words, and wards
only. As they were all of one opinion that an Ad.
dress was necessary, he conceived the wisest plan
would be to join together, as in one family, and
come to a decision at once; by this proceeding
they would deserve the thanks of their fellow ci.
testis", and gain the approbation of the country.
Mr. MAW MAN said, the principal objection
waned to be, that the last Address was not sent
to a Como Mee. The reason why this did nut
take place we', that it was merely one Addre s
opposed to abotim. r; added to whicn; uo such pro.