The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-08-02 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN,

that for those patriotic exertions which have by
the voices of a great majority of the people oT the
United Kingdom been must gratefully acknow-
?edged, as of most essential benefit and import.
alive to toe vital interests of the nation, his name
is nut to be found in the list of those who have
`publicly exprosied their gratitude. It has been
very lewdly era* by the fere who are of a similar
upiuiuu with that of the worthy Gentleman, Nat
the late trial at law appears to have implicated in
its coesequenoes the merits and character of Col.
Wardle ; but I must positively deny that this
circensatance, whatever it. may have been, can form
with us the smallest particle of matter for our
consideration. Whether the imputation on the cha.
racter of Cot. W. be true or false, this trausaction
can make no possible difference to us. It matters
not a jot, and I would only ask any Gentleman who
now hears me, where we should have found any
other man who would have undertaken that which
Colonel Wardle not only undertook, but that in
which he persevered with intrepidly and con.
stoney unparalleled, and in the prosecution of
which he sacrificed both his time and his pro-
perty ?—The only point to which we have to
look is the issue and effect of the Investiga-
tion. Now, as convincing proof of the charges
made by Mr. Wardle was actually brought home
to the party accused, it is certainly more imme.
diately incumbent on us to give the strongest tes-
timony in our power of the gratitude we
feel, or ought to feel, towards Colonel War.
die, than to be deliberating whether he shall
not he deprived of ell the merit of his conduct.
To those who can pretend to argue that a q nation
trf account between Col. Wardle and any other
person eight to form. a subject for our consider.
sties, I really deem it superfluous to make any
Is
reply—as it nut a question on which your time
and attention can with any propriety be claimed.
But, if the worthy Gentleman were Isere to sup-
port his own proposition, I would certainly ask
of him how it happened, in Toting, at a vast ex-
pence, a Monument to Mr. Pitt, the well.known
disregard of that Minister to all matters of per.
sonal expence, even to the total neglect of pay-
ment of all his trathomens' Bills—that fact did
not occur to the worthy Gentleman as a reason
for withholding so splendid and costly a testi-
cle:my of approbation—and as the scrupulously
delicate morality of the worthy Gentleman
is so extremely squeamish, and his regard for the
improper distribution of the thanks of this Court
so accurately sensitive, it may, perhaps, with some,
be a matter of no small surprise, that no foible in
the private character and conduct of the great
Nelson should have occurred to prevent the eve.
thy Gentleman from promoting, as he did most
forwardly, the monument voted by this Court to
the memory of that most illustrious character.
But no objection in either of these instances was
even hinted at by the worthy Gentleman, whose
sensitive part was probably at that moment asleep,
but for which he might bare sought in the private
defects of the non.payment of his tradesmeu's bills
by the one, and in a suspected illicit connection ;
precisely the same amount of objection as that'
which seems alone to forte the basis of the medial,
to tescind the Etesulutiou passed by this Court foes
vote of thanks toCol. Wardle. I dare say the woe.
tby Gent. would think it somewhat extraordinary,
Ai, epos his own grounds, a motion were to be now
made to rescind te tiesoltions by which It an
were voted to Mr.h Pitt and Lord Nelson. is in
truth must remarkable, that in the present in-
stance, where from the exertions by a single indi.
videal the country unquestionably derives salmi.
tages, tantamount to the greatest victory ever
obtained either by sea, or by land—the worthy
Gentleman's morality should be so suddenly
awakened. In saying that the exertions of Col.
Wardle have been of equal importance with the
greatest victory, I am convinced that I am pee.
reedy correct ; for if the success of the enemy de.
pends on the final ruin of our resources...it is not
I possible to estimate the advantages that must
inevitably be derived from those exertions, which
have so successfully tended to repress that corrup.
tints which has lung been sapping the very vitals
of the national resources ; and most certain it is,
that unless the enormous corruption that Is now
so irrefragably displayed in the broad face of day,
be effectually checked, a country so circumstan.
cod is in great danger of becoming finally an easy
victory to an enemy. Were any proof wanting of
the effect of the exertions of Colonel Wardle, the
resignation of the Duke of York might satisfy the
must incredulous, for by the evidence brought ter.
ward on the investigation, was that event prudue.
ed. This of itself is a fact conclusive of the an.
questionable merit of Colonel Wardle. But
the abuses that have been exposed by Mm its
the patronage of the Church and in the Army,
in thu sale of Seats in Parliament, in the India
noose, sod other depareswaoss, are so noasarosser
as to render erguinerst on so glaring • subject
wholly superfluous; and there can be little he.
sitation in the mind of any unprejudiced man, le
admitting that the savings which might be made its
the various branches of the prodigal, profuse ex.
penditure of Government, would amount to a saw
not inferior to that produced by the mast eh.
noxious tax to which a free country ever lash.
milted ; it is hardly necessary to say that I IMMO
that most abominable, oppressive, and unjust (be.
cause unequal) of all taxes, the Income Tan.
If wo do but steadily persevere in that course el
investigation and inquiry which the courageous
exertions of Colonel Wardle have opened—advae.
tages must ultimately result, which will produce
incalculable amendment and amelioration in the
condition of the country. Whether the Gentle.
man who originally instigated this question, had
it in view, by the carrying of his motion, to ex-
tinguish for ever all further inquiry, 1 will not
take upon myself to say ; but it is absolutely ne-
cessary to remove ill doubt with the country, of
what may be the sentiments of the Corporation of
the City of London on so important an occasion.
Perhaps it may be presumed, that if he did latter
hinted( with the prospect of deriving any 'than.
stage from the carrying sat this motion, it must
have been that of stifling that effusion of thanks
to Colonel Wardle which so many pennies la
this kingdom are yet extremely desirous of mega.

sing.—My Lord, the Corporation of the City of
Leaden having a political character to maintain,
and hissing for many years thought it not only
important, but iinlispesmibly necessary, to attend
to the measures of the Government, the people
at large of this country do ilidisputably look up
to ooh decisions with very deep interest, and with
most exceeding attentiou ; and to oar determina-
tion the country at this moment looks up with a
degree of anxiety, fully proportioned to the mag-
nitude of the occasion, and the importance of the
crisis at which we have arrived : the country at
large waits but for our detenninatioe to support Col.
W. of which, if once assured, we may certainly an-
ticipate all that weight, will be added to oar
efforts in the reformation of abuses, which can
he given by the support of a vast majoring of the
people of Ike United Kingdom. That the Cor.
poration will set in its true light the necessity of
coming to a decision at this critical moment, I,
for these reasons, anxiously hope and wish, al.
though the original Mover of the question, very
contrary to my expectations and wishes, is now ab.'
sent. With these views of this important subject,
I shall now move an Anteediecnt,oto which, I trust,
and indeed take it for granted, the Corporation
will MN the nectstity of declaring their sentiments,
by a positive decision ; fur inasmuch as an indivi-
dual cannot be hopod,withoot great support, toot-
feet so Herculean a task, it will not be denied that
it requires the (suited energies of all to cooperate
with him in the arduous undertaking in which he
has voluntarily and so nobly embarked--and if it
shall bo thought that we do require Reform—a
Itefor:nation of Abuses, certain I am that ulti-
mate safety can be obtained ouly by the exertion
of that auxiliary assistance which Col. Wardle
necessarily requires fur the accomplishment of
those objects, of which every one professes most
anxiously to desire the attainment.
That this Coon did, es the 6th day of Aprl kid. ea-
p_ress its Moaks and gratitude to Hwy I.i.vw Wire
WANOLI. Del. for his cooduet in bringing forward sod
sebsuoitiatliq; serious charges against the late Commeoder
is Chief. wilco, notwithstanding the majority la hiatus*
in the House of 'Commons, compelled his resigustisa. Thee
no eirearasiaare has 4 i nee troospired which no MMy moo
Der testes the import:wee of that isvestigatiosi. impeach his
motives. or aired the merits of the ease. 0o the estatrary,
his unwearied exertions, perseversace, sad fortitude. seder
onexam pled threats and difficulties. have developed a WM,
of abase and corruption' not only in the army.
hot in various departments el the State.
That It has been discovered by the said Irtvoetiptioa, Blot
these &beset have extended. toot *Ay to the 11=lef
Church and East India PfAmmage. but also to the of
Seats is the Lmisistsre t aid charge. hove hem breetild IT-
ward+ and Praoheilreedi latplleathqg lo seek corropt sod il
legal traffic Lord VaCNNOI Costleveggille the Hoe. Bremer
Percesal, and the Hos. Henry WeNeaq. aN_ Membees of
the House, and them and Dow holding
_easlltte simatiam to
hlslilajesty's noveramme. a oak which, is the language of
thelipoalter of the Home of Cowman. " Woviat Sala°
A 0111IATIa ScANDAIL UPON Tis s Paama went AND Tan
NATION Ta 41 II Tali COUNTRY NA, IVES snows sixes
PARLIAIIIINT Will Iran AN 1111119TSIICE.
That the said lisseittairrst also led to the discovery,
Hutt the mid Lord t.' see of his Molesty's Bee*.
larks of State, mils* of the Board of Commit,
did, its /agree' breach of his ditty as a Minister, abuse of his
patrooage. and gross violation of the Coastitstimi, place a
Writeeship is the hands of Lard Clam:arty. a Membered the
mote Som.!, for the peeper of obtain* for hiss a seat la
parliament ; which peeper
the said Lord Castlereagh hos him.
wit admitted, and. sotwithotandiog there appeared a smaller
isqtrity in his favorer. than appeared is favour of the Duke
selfork, in manifest injostico to his nasal Highness, asid
ram Multi to the Nation, the said Lord Cistlereagb dill re-
gains LAS official %nineties.
That these attacks spots the vital pristiples of the Coasti-
Soden have Isere mode whim* pwisiwcia or censer,. and
ototioi* for i-qoiry into such pmetites have been rejected
upon the alleged frequency and notoriety of than ; sad Par.
liaised has thereby. at well as bv pasting a BiU to r event
the sale of Seats to that House. recognized and acknowledged
She corrupt inikteoce under which it has been called together,
▪ exercised its foortioes.
k was stated by Mr. Wardle. that there was as Office
polithelea;tl open fur the sale 11 Plat weer Governess:at i
tod met statement, w ken made, realy excited the
derision a Mini.ters and the House, it has gore appeared.
that the obi* statement was enured; and his illabrigies Xi.
mister. have indicted and convicted several press* cemented
therein, and such piacticer were declared Is the said Indict-
ment to haves tendency to degrade. vilify, slid Intent. sad
bring into Contempt the Adsoisistratiou of the Cosatry.
That bar various gatemen' which Mr. Wardle has lately
*blunted to Parliament, it appears. that by a correct int, of
the frauds, abeam, corrupting, and peculatioa, which hate
been fund to exist I. every Mooch of the public expenditure
to which inquiry has extemiod, and a wise mid Mugu appli-
cation of our rent urreo. she yeople might be relieved from
heavy and ("pensive hortheas, If Met nom the logoisitorid
and most grievous of all impose, the Tax spout Income. That
his conduit on this occasion seems to have drawn open him,
in a nigh degree, the malice and rancour of thine who are
interested in the continuance of themsbuols.
That in the opt** of this Onurt, Individuals who devote
their exertion towards exposing and, emigre% politic abuses,
are at all tenet entitled to the rapport and protection of the
country, particularly at the preset assigerd, when there ap.
pears as nnahating effect INS OW part of those notnrimuly un-
der the intseace of Goverment, or who part cipate is she
existing frauds. corruptioss, sod predation'', to cry dewy',
vilify, said troilism every miss who has cosrage and integrity
to expose such practices. is order to mislead the public, and
divert their attend* from these great evils.
Mr. BOX. perfectly agreed in the propriety of
coming to a decision on the question before the
Court. He was ready to hold up his hand in
favour of Colonel Wardle, aid admitted that th.
late trial hail nothing to do with the question_..
the merit of Colonel Wardle he did mean to de-
preciate ; but at the same time, hoped the Court
would retiree before it adopted the Resolutions'
which had been just read...for Retolutitnis so ex.
tussle* in their application, ought, its his opinion,
to have been Mode a distinct qiiesoun fur discus-
sion. He thought it quite improper that Gentle-
men should make this a party question, and sit in I
judgment on such high and exulted characters as
Lard Castlereagh and others, who have serval
their countr for a great number of years. (4
load laugh.
Mr. UR FFITHS felt, that if ever there was
a question which demanded the solemn decision iif
the Court, it was that which was before them--.
the Gentleman who had just delivered his senti.
meats had talked of party ; but be trusted there
was but one party, and that party would maintain
the Government of the country ; but, if in that
Government there should be found sues who were
a disgrace to the situations which they held—
he, fur one, felt it to be the duty of that Court,
to express its disapprobation of their conduct.—
He would ask whether corruption had not, like •
snail touched on the head, shrunk into its house?
Would it be contended, that Colonel Wardle bad
oat rendered the country most important services
by the various inquiries which he had instituted,
independent of the original investigation ? Hail
fie not exposed the shameful practice of selling
seats in Parliament ? had tin not es posed the dia.
graceful manser in which the patronsce of the Di-
rectors of the East India Company had been dis.

posed of ?.-.in short had he not otposed practices
of corruption all round us, and at almost every
poise. It most be acknowledged, and indeed,
seemed to he admitted, by his friend behhel him,
who opposed the ambitions of the Worthy M.
derman—that Colonel Wardle had done a great
deal for the Ceuntry....Avdnst that he had not
yet heard a syllable, and his friend behind his
had candidly admitted, that the trial at last
could not affect the merit of Colonel War.
die, nor ought to have any effect upon the opi.
nion of the Court. , With respect to the ictee-
duction of the names of Lord Castlereagh, Mr.
Perceval, and others in high official situations, he,
for his own part, thought that the higher the site.
vim's, the more necessary it became to have them
filled with good servants ; and certainly, in order
to have good servants, it is necessary to look well
sifter them. However high might be the situations
which these men filled, he saw no reason why they
should out look them in the face, and tell them of
their misconduct. That man who psys the ester.
mons rates and taxes under which we labour' and
twenty shillings in the pound, ought to band down
to posterity, untarnished, those rights and lailerties
which were the prise and boast of Englishmen.
On all occasions his fellow.citileos might look to
him as a supporter of their rights, and certainy
should never took to him in vain. He *mild, at
all times, boldly censure the high and mighty,
when the deserved it, and protect, to the utmost
of his ability, the weak and needy.
, Mr. WAITIIMAN.—AIthough Ido not think.
that any arguments can he necessary to iodises the
Court to adopt the Resolutions of the worthy Al-
derman, yet having taken an active part in the
discussion when that Vote of Thanks to Colonel
Wardle was passed, which it is the object of the
present Motion to rescind, mad having had the
honour of bringing forward a similar Vote of
Thanks on other occasions, I cannot safer the
proposition that is now before the Court to pew
without observation. I regret, esreedingly, that
the Gentleman who gave the pollee af this Ye.
lion has not thought fit to attend, and live kk
reasons to the Court for that extraordinary notice.
But his having thus shrunk from the discussion
certainly betrays a consciousness of a want of
argument to support his Motion. I do not feel k
necessary, or indeed possible. to say so meek
on this important subject in the absence of that
Gentleman ; for were he present, I might say
some things that possibly would be very unplea•
sant, and which I really know not how to say in
, his absence. Yet, I teed that I may be justified
in eramining the conduct of that Gentleman,
i though absent; and of inferring from that con.
i duct such motives as it may fairly appear to "ree-
-1 rant. 1 have not the sinallest hesitation in now
I asserting that which I would certainly do to his
I face if he were present—that he his stalled that
which, is not true....wonelyi that be gore notice
of bringing forward this motion after the Ad.
,„iesirnnient...for there is no such thing as an Ad.
journinent of this Courts True It is, that for the
general convenience of its Members, it has at
certain periods of the year been omitted to be
called together; but I have never known an
instance in which mit one whole months has
j elapsed without this Court being called toot.
I ther. I have indeed more than once f.. end
that those who hAlb:wned to have the eat of
the Lord Mayor fur the time being, take ad.
vantage of the interest they had with his Lord.
ship to get a coneenfeal day appointed, in order
to mortis through certain propositions of their
own. But, myLord, with respect to the geese
lion n .w before the Court, I must take the 11.
betty of remarking, that the Gentleman who
pas the notice of this motion must surely be the
very pattern and quintessence of morality, sloe
be deems the alleged breach of a pecuniary en-
gagement by Colonel Wardle of sufficiest import.
'nee absolutely to ileum the whole merit to which
he is unquestionably entitled, from his great and
enerio.orions exertions- -and not contented with
entertaining, as an individual, an abstract nq.
Lion, so estraorditiary—w-he modestly call!
upon the Corporation of the City of London,
on no better ground than this, to resided its
own act, passed in a very full attendance of this
Court, and after having undergone a aeries:a and
very interesting discussion. My Lord, distention.
man opposite to use (NI r. Knoll, at the same time
that he admits, with great readiness, that the trial
has nothing to do with the questilai of Colonel
Wurdies merits, thinks the ritsolittioSis plwpnind
by the worthy Alderman too harsh is maserias
the conduct of that high and exalted perms*"
•ho has served the country re lout.-. Lord Cas•
tlereagh and also others; and this he makes the
stalking horse of his opposition; bat that trick
I have seen too often played off to be br ON men
ment deluded by it, and so well indeed am I aware
of this species of stratagom, that I oven de.
nified my susvicions before I came into Court,
that such a trick would be attempted by those
who acted with the gentleman who gave the
' notice of the motion now before the Cori. By
way of illustration of the habits of that geode.
man, I shall state a fed :...That fieatiesae (Mr.
Dixon) himself came to me not long after the
trial, in which Colonel Wardle was interested,
took place—amt condoled most patted, on tits
piteous situation to which Colonel Wardle was
reduced. 66 Oh !" says the °coarse', 46 What
" a sad sad basin's: is this i You ain't think,
'" Mr. Waiihman, how it hurts me. leaked I
66 am so hurt ! And, besides what shall we do,
66 you know we can't let the Thanks to him stand
" on the votes ,sons—Oh ! I am so hurt about
" this business you ain't think Ili" With this
cant and hypocrisy be sot only tried me, bet he
tried the Court all round, and at length, dis.
I coveting that it would not de, ha silently
shrunk from the attempt for that time. And
this is not the Only time that that Gentleman
has resorted to the cant of hypocrisy to carry on
his desigus, for I remember his coming to me on
the occultsn of a Motion of Mr. Birch. 66 Lord,"
says be, " whet a jeettrk Motion is this of bird'
6' about No Popery":l [Here Mr. 'ragtime*
was interrupted.) Ido assert that be came tool
house in the manner I have described. From hit
conversation I soon (*metered that be had been

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