The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-06-08
FOREIGN EXTRACTS.
LONDON. ArHIi. "a.

The New parliament, by which the new
reign may be properly said 10 commence, has
begun 10 assemble, and by the middle OF The
present week. will enter upon its immediate
business. Being the first Parliament OF
George The Fourth, and having been elected
under very peculiar circumstances, its FIRST
proceedings will be Of equal interest and i'm
port ance.
The character Of a Parliament may be, in a
great degree, anticipated, by an attentive con-
sderation Of the circumstances under which
it is convoked and returned. The new Par
lament has met under state OF things very
favourable to the existing administration.
The Manchester business. with a very little
deduction on the score Of the form OF the in
dic,ment, has been decided in favour of the
Ministry, the jury having returned verdict
in substance. that the parties accused, though
not guilty Of a conspiracy were guilty OF be.
ing siagiy parties in an illegal meeting. The
trials at Chester have had the same result.
All the persons accused there have been found
guilty. AT Leicester the verdict against Sir
Francis Burdett has been equally conclusive
in favour of the administration. II would be
premature 10 say more of the present pending
trials than that some OF the accused persons
hive been found guilty upon the clcarest ey-
idence. Now, all these results, and the state
q things which they prove 10 have existed,
are all in favour OF the Ministers, and auspi
cious to the parliamentary consideration Of
their councils. Our inference is, that the par
~ of the Ministers will be stronger with The
country gentlemen than is anticipated by the
n l.. ~ sho .,rle IL,
Ministers will be at least as strong 10 this par.
lament as in the last.
The second business, upon which the Par
Iiameu, will have 10 decide, (at least We
think it will be forced upon them IN the COLI.
sion Of the two parties. respects the Queen,
who, il is said, has sgu'fed her resolute pur
pose to come over, and demand Der rights.
Her Majesty has. Of course, an undoubted
right 10 act in this manner, II her own sense
OF her case suggests il to be The most prudent
for her interest; and as this is country in
which, the law is paramount, il she choose 10
pursue this course, there is nothing to impede
her in the execution Of her purpose. She has
the same rights which any other nanied Eng
mere is no existing law Ivy which she can be
Iept out Of the country. We see that The
irs, law officer Of The Crown has already act
ed upon this view Of her case and rights and
as her Majesty is Queen dc jdcto, and musl
remain Queen until divorced by due course Of
law, the Chancellor has scknowlcd her
right, by confirming her appointment of her
own officers Her Majesty, therefore, has tn.
undoubted power Of compelling trial, or of
assuming that participation of royal rights and
dignity TO which she is entitled For our own
parts, we had hoped that this unpleasant bust.
ness would have subsidized by compromise !;
but in the present state Of the affair, and con-
sidering The opinion so generally prevalent
amongst the porulace, we think it'almost ne.
ces.ary that this legal investigation should take
place, and that the public decision should be
settled one way or the olhsr. We are per.
fectly aware Of The great interest concerned
on both sides; but where the question is on
one side, the guilt or innocence OF TIE person
siseuuously asserting her innocence. and suf.
feripg, in great degree, the punishment Of
actual guilt, we think every other feeling ought
to give way to the interest Of Justice. This is
our deliberate and sincere opinion and with
all due respect for the parties on both sides,
we very much regret that il has been made
party question.
Mr.. Peter Rigby. another unfortunate victim
10 the hardness Of the Chancery Law, has Just
paid the debt of nature, in the Flee, PRISON,
after eightyeaIs' confinement Since the Hon.
II. q. Bennett laid the case OF poor Williams,
ofthir!y three years' confinement. with Others,
before the House 1T Commons. three or four
Sessions back, this makes the ninth person
who has thus been released by death.
A Petition to Parliament is now in
course Of signature in the City, to re-
peal the existing laws relating to Trade
nd Navigation, and praying that ships
: all countries may be admitted free
- the United Kingdom, under the
see regulations as British ships.
%, LONDON, APRIL %.
Emperor of Russia continues bis exer.
uohs wards perteclng his system of military
'nsuuo,n. He has formed two establish
mems Petersburg, and one at Kastroma,
anc W use about 1000 youth will be in.
a.