Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-08-10

iOT the dcpdrtuEc Oh some 0t Sne t1lucr-
men before the division, aud the un.
handsome conduct of some of the Com.
moners, the majority would have been
against the petition and resolutions.
Sir c. Price, Sir C. Flower, Sir J. Per-
ring, and Mr.. Alderman Scholey,
were" adds that paper, s'present for
some time, but could not stay to vote.
Two Commoners, who had paired off
with two others, very unfairly return.
ed and voted for the petition and two
m ore, who spoke against the proposed
measure, afterwards divided In favor
of it. to the great astonishment oftheir
friends" The majority was but six.
Sketch of some observations on this
occasion.
Alderman c.. Smith was at loss to
perceive what design or contrivance
there COULD be on the part of minis.
tiers. He thought that it might cause
considerable alarm in distant places
800 miles from town, to be told that
the House.of Commons was imprisou-
ing Engtishmen. Ia laugh The gen
tlemen who, however, now opposed
this privilege, said nothing about it
twelve months ago, when General Cla-5
vering and Captain Sondon, and other
people were sent to prison. He tho's
that every man in the country would
have had serious cause of alarm. if
the Commons had not supported their
privileges on the recent occasion.
Il ~ L..
friend (Mr QUINN had toached bur
very slightly in his speech, on the long
last OF grievances enumerated In his
motion. 1t appeared to him that this
power could no where be so well YES.
ted as In the House of Commons. AZ
ter quoting some of the precedents.
he cited an extract from "Peter Por,.
cupine, condemning Gale Jones's for
smer conduct and sc censured warm.
ly the cpnduct Of Sir Francis Hurdett
in associating withtraitors. lie deni-
ed. tharf any reform according 10 his
plan, could be attended Withdrawn
tage to the men ofproperty AID he
Thought that the Representatives of
Westminster, wererather the represent
tatives of the active citizens of ST.
CHESS, the Seven Dials, and Convent
Garden thali'of the men of property
IN Westminster. He said, that no two
retormists had agreed in their plans.
those of Lord Chatham, Mr.. Grey.
Mr.. Brand, and Sir Francis Burdsfr.
were wholly different; & as he saw no
good likely 10 arise from the discus
sion, ne thought that this vas nose
improper time TO agitate the couotry,
upon the subject.
Mr.. Mawnan had no doubt In the
world, from the concurrence. both IF
history and authori;yyon the point, that
the House. of Commons had riahr TO
the power which they exercised. Lord
Coke in his fourth Institute, gave them
the right of judicature, and Lord Fos-
ter declared the law of Parliament to
De the law of the land. Sir Francis
Burdett himself had allowed the House
the power of commitment in cases of
contempt, and there could be no greater
insult offered to it than the paper which
he had published.
The proceedings in both Houses of par-
lament last night were interesting. The
Catholic question was Diseased in the
House of Lords, and rejected by a naios
rity OF 90. In the House of Com mons two.
petitions were presented from aetksh:re,
one praying for reform in Parliament.
was received. The other, against the i'm.
prisonmeut of Burdett and Jones aud
praying for their release, was rejected af.
ter sharp debate, on the ground of the
petition being insulting to the House.
There is report in Holland of hostilities
being about to commence between Russia
and France. We do not attach the Sigh
test credit to 1T. Alexander, who would
not DECLARE against France when he might
nave had the cooperation of Austria will
hardly go to war with her, when he is sure
Austria viii be against him.
Courier.
A passenger on board trading ship iIst
arrived from Cadiz, informs as, that Jos.
ePh Bonaparte had very narrow escape
on his late joarney from Grenada to Mad.
rid. number OF armed peasants, in orr
der to intercept him, concealed themselves
in one OF the Sierra Morena, and on
sudden made their appearance. and dis.
charged several rounds. Some of the balls
pierced the Carriage of the usurper. aud
Killed two OF his attendants, but the prin-
clPai design was not accomplished.