The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-08-25

or sSSSinns, independent OF other sorts of in
huence, amounted to Eo less sum than ID, :.
5loi. Not to mention that the boroughs Of
and New Romney, were ope,,y
sold for money.
But ut all the various corruptious and a.
buses--of all the fatal misapplications of the
public money. none, he thought, SO impera-
lively called for an Immediate check as the
corrupt interference to which he had alrea-
dy alluded. exercised by the Treasury TO pro.
cure the return of Members to that House,
The following proceedings too, will contri
butte to shed light upon the subject:
FROM A LoNooN PAPER OF NAV o.
DINNER AT THE GROWN AND AN.
CHOIR.
Yesterday there was dinner to commemorate
the anniversary OF the triumph of Westminster &
the purity of election. Sir Francis Burdett was
the Chairman, and the Committee who conduct
ed the election were the stewards.
After dinner the following toasts were given,
and drank with great applause
Ihe kinS and the Act of Settlement -
Magma Charta -" The People and the Bill
OF Rights The Purity ofEiection, the first
stepto Parliamentary Reform"
The next toast which was given, was, Z" West.
mihsterspride, Sir Francis Burdett" This toast
was drank with great applause
Sir Francis Burdett then rose. He hoped that
the pleasure and satisfaction which he then ex-
Perienced would be often repeated, and tha, the
sense ofthe electors would be annually mani est
ed III the same way.-As for himself he had no
way OF returning the favor which had been con.
tered upon him, but by constant, firm, and
steady perseverance in that line of conduct which
hrst recommended him to their notice. Their
conduct upon the late election had conferred
immortal honor upon them, although he felt how
undeserving he was ofthat great partially which
he had experienced
e Hetelt sorry, indeed that upon that anniver-
saty, he couid not hold out any prospects of adj
vantage tothe'people from any thing which had
lately passed in that House, which used to be
Called by many people, and which certainly al
ways called itself. the House of Representatives
OF the people OF England. Although he had of
ten met his constituents, still it happened thai
something new and extraordinary had occurred
between every time of meeting. 1t was now un-
olusllinSly allowed IN that house, that used to be
called the House of Commons, by men detected
in their iniquity, that corruption was constantly
practised by the Ministers sof the Crown-rhis
was not only unbushngiy ayowed by one party,
Dut appeared fully to meet the sense of the other
party 1t had been supposed by many, that the
example held out by the greaticity of Westmm
YER would have 4 powerful eiisctS on the other
Cities and corporate towns in the kingdom. 1t
would, however, be recollccted that ali were not
IN the same situation as Westminster, & were not
capable OF following such an example, it was
useless fox the electors of Westminster to talk 4,
those whose circumstances did not allow them
to follow the example.-They might as we'll talk
TO prisoners shackled in Newgate of the advan-
tage OF fresh air and eXercise-( Applause Ill
the example OF Westminster had not operated
much on the corporate bodies of the country, i,
had operated powerfully on the opinions of the
great bulk OF the people of England, many of
whom, although possessing large properties,
were not electors under the present system.
They had no votes in rotten burroughs, & there
lore The greater number of the people of England
were excluded from their proper share of infu
ence in chusing the Legislature
When the electors first applied TO him to he
their representative, he told them fairly that he
WAS convinced that neither he nor any other per-
son could do any service to the people at large
in an assembly constituted as that was. No
thing certainly had been done in the session, ex-
cept the exposure ofabuses, which took place in
consequence OF the eXertions of his Honorable
Friend at his right hand Mr. Wardle.) As that
gentleman was present, he should not say much
OF him, but he thought that as he had all the risk
he should have all the honor Lound and long
continued APPLAUSE. Ills friend on his left hand
( MIR. Maslocks) had also brought forward cliar-
ges, and IN most tangible share. The govern
ment, however, were not disposed to touch them.
In the tormer business which his friend (CoI.
Wardle) had brought forward, they thought that
by their tricks and contrivances and by their de-
cded maJorities, thov would be able to confound
and get rid OF the accusation but in the latter
business they were afraid TO encounter the tanpi-
bic shape OF the charge, and therefore unblushing
y ayowed their corruption. 1t was curious to
see the course that they pursued at first they
found fault with his Hon. Friend (Mr Madocksl
tor bringing forward vague and underlined char
ses, but the moment he produced those charges
IN specific form, then both sides of the
House agreed, that the practice complained of
was SO notorious, and affected all parties so e.
quay, that no notice should be taken of it. 1t
was most extraordinary inIeed, that the very to-
PIC, which III other cases would loudly call for
punishment, should in this case be stated as the
motive for acquttal. The extent of the crime,
and the dangerous consequences OF it to the pub
lic, were generally supposed grounds for calling
tor punishment; but III that case different doc
trine was held. 1t was on that memorable day,
Lhe i2th oflas May, (Which a day that ought
never to be forgotten,) that the mask was
thrown oil, and the Borough -mongers declared
themselves atlssue against the rights Of the PEG
pie loud APPLAUSE J He could not avoid taking
lotice OF a sentiment inculcated in The TINES
newspaper, that even if the King were to yield
% the united wishes and prayers OF bis people
or Parliamentary Reform, perhaps Parlia. |
nent would not consent to it--Now this was
precisely the thing that he wished to see tried he
wished TO see the King & his people at one side,
Z Borough-mongers on the other. Ifthis was the |
ssue, lie would not be apprehensiye of the re.
ult. He should really like to see the Borough |
nongfrs at issue with the King and his people !
Ioad dpPlduse Since the petition of his friend |
VIZ Horne Tooke, who stated openly that seats |
u Parliament were as VIGOROUSLY sold as cattle |