Wellesley in the personal perpetration of any cruelty or injustice, but was that an admissible defence for any government which knew, or ought to know, of the misconduct of its agents?

Mr. IV. Smith supported the opinions of Mr. Whitbread.

The bill was read a third time and passed, as was the register of the admiralty courts regulation bill, and the salaries' account bill, after some conversation between Mr. Bankes, Mr. Perceval, and Mr. C. W. Wynne. Wednesday, June 20.

SHEFFIELD COUNTER PETITION.

Mr. Wilberforce rose for the purpose of performing a duty, which, notwithstanding his continued indisposition, he was proud to discharge. He held in his hand a petition from a very large body of his constituents, inhabitants of the town and vicinity of Sheffield. It was from the state of his health impossible for him to have been in his place when a petition from that town was rejected. He had now only to observe, that he derived great pleasure from presenting a petition claiming such respect from the number and respectability of the persons whose names were affixed to it."

"

The petition was then read-it "dis"avowed all connexion with the persons who had carried the rejected petition. "It placed its confidence in the wisdom "and justice of the house of Commons, "convinced that it would take the proper means of effecting such an econo"mical and parliamentary reformation, as to them would seem fit and proper." Mr. Wilberforce, in rising to move that it should lie on the table, took the opportunity of observing, that the house must feel the propriety of its course, when it called forth such concurrence from the public as was expressed in the petition just presented. He entered into a panegyric upon the many and great blessings which the people of this country enjoyed, by that constitution which was the object of admiration with all nations. With respect to parliamentary reform, he, who was a moderate reformer, preferred a time of coolness ruther than one of public heat for the discussion of that great question, because the greater danger was, lest the house should go too far, rather than not far enough, in following up such a principle.

Mr. Hutchinson said, that however disposed he might have been to let the present motion pass without any observation upon his part, yet there were one it had been introduced, which he could or two passages in the speech by which not so readily suffer to go unnoticed. It had been too much the practice of those who pretended to an exclusive attachment for the constitution to call in question the motives of the men who, in oranxious to abolish all the abuses that ender to preserve that constitution, were dangered it. He certainly could not impute to the hon. gentleman the having made any direct charges of that sort, but the general tenor of his speech did appear to him (Mr. H.) to convey more than indirect insinuations to that effect. He would not follow the hon. gentleman in the steps of his elaborate eulogy, but surely if the constitution was worthy of such high praise, it more particularly called for their preventing care; and without imputing motives to any set of men, he could not help thinking that they who were anxious to remove these blemishes which the innovations of time had introduced, gave as rational proofs of their loyal attachment to the constitution, as those who thought it enough to praise it. He, for his part, would rather witness the removal of those defects that had grown upon the constitution, than listen to the vague praises of its original excellence. He preferred those practical eulogies that took effectual care to preserve what they praised. Another point was, the right of petitioning: this was one of the most valued and unquestioned rights of the people. He feared that the conduct of the house that sessions had not been such as to shew their respect for that right. In examining petitions it had too much indulged in a minute and verbal criticism, equally unworthy their dignity and their justice. He contended that so invaluable a right ought not to be defeated by sophistical cavils. The language of indignant complaint could not be expected to please the objects of it. That house, constituted as it then was, had been the subject of general complaint and distrust, and would, he feared, continue to be so till the wishes of the country were yielded to in a reform of its representation: On the subject of privi lege he would say nothing more, than that he had always thought that the privileges of that house were only valuable

in defence of the people's liberties: certainly, that he conceived to be the object of their creation, and in that view he was sorry to be obliged to give it as his bumble opinion that the exercise of their privileges during that session had been in certain instances hostile to the interests of the country.

Mr. Calcraft observed, that after all the disagreements of the session, in which ministers were left in many minorities, it was impossible for him to subscribe to the infe ence, that they separated with that unity of sentiment which the hon. mover fancied to exist. He was assured that the real fact was, that the house during the session had done nothing to raise itself in the estimation of the public. He did, however, hope, that when it was again assembled it would feel the absolute necessity of taking the course recommended by the petition, namely, of considering the best means of an economical and parliamentary reformation. He hailed the admission of such grave authority as that of the hon. mover, when he pronounced himself a friend to reform.

Mr. Wilberforce in explanation said, that he had not avowed himself a friend to parliamentary reform, only that he

preferred for such consideration, a season when the public mind was not sanguine in the pursuit, because then there was no danger of carrying the principle to a dangerous extreme.

Lord Temple observed, that when specific grievances were brought forward, he was most ready to admit that specific remedies ought to be considered. In that view, and in that view only, was he a friend to reform, always opposed as he should be to general undefined changes, such as was demanded under what the public clamour designated parliamentary reform. He defended the privileges of the house of commons, but protested against the principle of any subordinate court being allowed to decide upon them.

Thursday, June 21. The Speaker took the chair at a quarter before three o'clock.

The Deputy Usher of the Black Rod summoned the house to the house of peeis, to hear commnissions read for passing bills, and the prorogation of parlia ment. The Speaker, attended by the members, went up, and returned in about twenty minutes. He read the Speech, as usual, at the table to the several members,who immediately after separated.

CITY OF ROCHESTER. At a Meeting of the Citizens and Inhabitants of the City of Rochester, assembled under the Court Hall, on Monday, the 5th instant, the following Resolutions and address were unanimously agreed to.

1. Resolved, That this meeting views with sorrow and regret, the alarming extent of power assumed and exercised by the Commons House of Parliament, in the imprisonment of Mr. Gale Jones and Sir Francis Burdett, inasmuch as their punishment, without trial or conviction, is, in our opinions, a direct violation of the rights of the people, contrary to the principles of the British constitution, and totally destructive to the grand palladium of English liberty, a trial by jury.

2. Resolved, That the decisions of

the house of Commons on the important questions which have been brought under their consideration, particularly the investigation respecting the Duke of York, the sale of seats in parliament, the inquiring into the Walcheren expedition, and lastly, the imprisonment of John Gale Jones and Sir Francis Burdett, have been contrary to evidence in the first cases, and without the least atom of evidence in the last case, and in direct opposition to the sense of the nation, which clearly proves that the influence of the crown predominates more in that assembly than the voice of the people.

3. Resolved, That a petition be presented by our worthy representative, J. Calcraft, Esq. to that hon. house, praying them to revise their late proceedings, and restore Mr. Gale Jones and Sir F.

Burdett to their families, and as we are convinced that these evils, of which we so justly complain, can only be effectually remedied by a radical reform in the constitution of that honourable house, to request they will assist that worthy baronet in his efforts to obtain that important object, the necessity of which is so universally acknowledged. And that such petition be signed by the chairman, and fifty freemen, as the representatives of this meeting.

4. Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to Sir Francis Burdett, for his honest and disinterested zeal, which he has uniformly displayed both in and out of parliament, against injustice and peculation, particularly for bringing forward to public notice the nefarious transaction at Chelsea Hospital, the inhuman conduct towards a British sailor, at Sombrero, and the imprisonment of John Gale Jones, all which prove that he is equally a friend to the gallant tar, the veteran soldier, and the virtuous citizen,

5. Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to JOHN CALCRAFT, Esq. our worthy representative, for his upright conduct in parliament, and particularly for his recent declaration, respecting the necessity of a reform.

6. Resolved, That the late resolution be transmitted to Mr. Calcraft, accompanied with the one containing the thanks to Sir F. Burdett, and that he be requested, in company with Mr. J. Hulks, to wait upon the hon. baronet with the same.

7. Resolved, That with respect to the conduct of our other representative, Sir Thomas Boulden Thompson, bart. comptroller of the navy, we view with disgust his slavish adherence to the minister of the day, by his votes in that hon. house, on the discussion of those great public questions before enumerated, and which clearly convince us of the necessity of reform, and a recarrence and adherence to the principles declared by the bill of rights "That no placeman or pensioner "shall be eligible to sit in the commons "house of parliament."

8. Resolved, That the constitutional mode of obtaining redress of grievances is by petition, and any person who attempts, either under the cloak of office, or by any other means, to impede public meetings, the object of which is constitutionally to discuss public measures,

VOL. VIII.

is an enemy to the privileges of the people, and a base violator of the rights of Englishinen.

9. Resolved, That the conduct of the present mayor, in refusing to grant a common hall to the freemen of this city, when requested so to do, is an infringement of those rights, which, upon entering into office, he solemnly swore to protect, and manifestly proves him either to be a friend to corruption, or a tool to those who are, and in either case deserves the detestation and contempt of his fellow citizens.

10. Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to J. HULKES, Esq. our worthy chairman, for the attachment and regard he has evinced, upon every occasion for the interest and welfare of his fellow citizens, and particularly for his patriotic support in the principles of this meeting, and his impartial conduct this day in the chair.

BERWICK-UPON-TWEED.

The loyal inhabitants of Berwick-uponTweed having been convened by James Graham, Esq. the coroner, in the absence of the Mayor, (who has not been ut Berwick for some time,) the following Resolutions were passed without a dissentient voice.

I. That a letter of thanks from this corporation be sent to Sir F. Burdett, for his steady perseverance to procure a redress of grievances, and a reform in parliament, and his uniform patriotic defence of the liberties of the people, particularly in the case of Mr. Gale Jones, who is now immured in a gaol, without having the benefit of that invaluable privilege, which is so justly dear to every Englishman-a trial by jury. And that our present representatives be instructed to support the petition presented to parliament, by the independent electors of Westminster; and that our present members be further instructed, to support to the utmost of their power and abilities, the motion intended to be brought forward for a reform in the British house of Commons.

II. That a petition and address for a more equal representation of the people in parliament, and for a redress of grievances, be presented to the house of Commons, and that our representatives be instructed to present and support the

same.

Berwick, May 5, 1810,

The following is a copy of the letter transmitted to Sir F. Burdett, and of the names of the gentlemen signing:

To SIR F. BURDETT, BART. Sir; We the free and independent burgesses of Berwick-upon-Tweed, taking into consideration the particular cir cumstances in which this country has been placed for a long time past; the many important discussions which have taken place; the great variety of abuses which have been discovered in almost every department of the state, and have, more or less, engaged the attention of every considerate man; with the late transactions which have justly filled the nation with alarming anxiety.-In all the debates which these matters have given birth to, in the British house of Commons, as well as upon any public occasion, it has given us much satisfaction to observe, that you have been the uniform friend to not only parliamentary reform, but to the reform of all other abuses. We have likewise observed, with pleasure that your maxims of reform, however much they have been stigmatised by the friends of corruption, were not the ideas of a fanciful theorist, but the calm investigation of a mind, accustomed to deep research, pointing out, upon every occasion, the constitution in its original purity, as a rallying point for every real lover of his country. This is the reform which we want, and none other.

We

have likewise observed, with much pleasure, that you have been the uniform friend of the distressed; you have upon every occasion exerted yourself to procure a redress of their wrongs, or to mitigate the sufferings of those who had few to help them. These things have endeared you to the friends of humanity, and must, no doubt be a source of inward pleasure and satisfaction to yourself. The lively interest which you took relative to the commitment of Mr. Gale Jones to Newgate, (and which was the leading cause of your own much-to-belamented situation) was greatly interesting to every Englishman. We will not enter into the discussion of the privileges of the house of Commons. They certainly have privileges of an extensive nature, and so long as they are exerted in the defence of the lives, liberty, and property of the people, we sincerely, hope they will be maintained inviolate. But that any individuals, should be com mitted to gaol for an indefinite length of

time, because they have presumed to discuss the merits or demerits of our own representatives; or even to publish their own opinions upon their conduct, without having the benefit of what is justly dear to Englishmen, a trial by jury, fills us with the most alarming apprehensions, and we scruple not to say, if passed into a law, or made a precedent for future conduct, all the gaols of the kingdom will not be sufficient to contain the twentieth part of the people who may be found guilty. We consider the freedom of discussion, and the liberty of the press, as the birth-right of every Englishman, and the best guardian of our rights and privileges, and hope, that they will be handed down inviolate to the latest posterity. It is from these considerations that we are this day assembled to express our gratitude to you, and to instruct our members to exert all their abilities to obtain a reform in the British house of Commons, trusting that you will continue the steady and inflexible patriot, with no other object m view, but the good of our country, and the happiness of every individual.—We sincerely hope, that you will soon be restored to your anxious family, and to fulfil the important duties of the representation of your worthy electors. We are very respectfully, Sir, your most humble servants,

JAMES GRAHAM, Coroner. [This letter was signed by other 65 burgesses.]

Berwick, May 11, 1810.

After the circulation of this paper some of the magistrates issued the following notice:

"It appearing to us highly improper and indecorous, that the coroner of this borough should take upon himself to convene a corporate meeting, which he has no authority to do by the charter, constitution, or usage of the corporation and that 66 out of upwards of 500 resident burgesses should, at a meeting so convened, make use of the name and authority of the corporation in passing resolutions and giving instructions to the representatives of the borough, and that it is proper that such of the burgesses as disapprove of this proceeding, should have an early opportunity of shewing their disapprobation, we request a meeting of those burgesses who concur with us in opinion, at the Town Hall, on Wednesday, June the first at ten o'clock.

TO THE INHABITANTS AT LARGE.

"We also request a meeting of the inhabitants of the parish to consider of the propriety of entering into resolutions of a contrary tendency to those at the meeting on the 5th inst. at the Town Hall on the same day, at one o'clock. JOHN CLUNIE, DAVID LOGAN, JAMES BELL, W. PATTISON."

Town-Hall, Berwick, May 21. Accordingly at the time appointed, a numerous meeting of the burgesses took place. One of the magistrates then came forward, and proposed, that a resolution disapproving of the former ones should be adopted and signed by the meeting.It is impossible for us to describe the particulars of this meeting, but the war of words, we understand, raged, and the epithets of placemen, pensioners, abettors of corruption, &c. were plentifully bestowed upon those gentlemen who had called the meeting. The clamour at length became so great and the sense of the meeting so decidedly hostile to the proposed resolution, that a very large majority of the burgesses quitted the Inner Hall, and stopped in the Outer one, when a nuinber signed the original resolutions. The magistrates also signed their resolution, and in course of the forenoon they went canvassing for names, but with little success. But this repulse at the burgesses meeting was nothing to the terrible defeat which they had to sustain, at the meeting which assembled at one o'clock.

At about half past one o'clock, the inhabitants began to assemble, and the Inner Hall was soon completely filled. Mr. J. Graham's arrival was announced by thunders of applause. Mr. R. Romer then moved, that John Clunie, Esq. do take the chair (loud cries of No!no!) Mr. J. Grabam was then proposed by numerous voices to take the chair, and at the request of J. Clunie, Esq. a division took place, when there appeared but few out of several hundreds in favour of himself. Mr. Graham immediately took the chair amidst loud huzzas, and addressed the meeting in an able speech, after which, Mr. George Bogue came forward with the following resolutions: Resolved, 1st. That this meeting do highly approve of the proceedings of the burgesses of this borough, at their meeting of the 8th instant, in which they expressed their approbation of the conduct of Sir F. Burdett, and entirely concur

in their opinion that a reform in parliament is absolutely necessary for the sal vation of our country.-2d. That this meeting do highly disapprove of the conduct of the magistrates above-namned, in calling a meeting for the specific purpose of counter acting the resolutions of the meeting of the burgesses on the 8th instant, legally and constitutionally convened; and the more so, that after finding at the meeting convened by themselves, that a great majority disapproved of their proceedings, they have resorted to the unconstitutional means of canvassing the borough, and using their influence for obtaining signatures to their counter-resolutions.-3d, That this meeting do recommend to the burgesses of this borough, previously to the election of their representatives in parliament, seriously to consider whether those persous who offer themsslves as candidates are men of such independent principles as entitle them to the confidence of their constituents: and that a petition to the Commons house of parliament, for a more equal representation of the people, and for a redress of grievances, be presented from this meeting.-4th, That the thanks of this meeting be given to the chairman, for his able and impartial conduct in the chair.-5th, That the above resolutions be signed by the chairman, and inserted in the Alfred London newspaper, and Berwick Advertiser.

The first, second, and third resolutions were then after some debate put, and carried amidst a general acclamation.-The chairman then read a draught of a petition to the house of commons, for a reform in that house, which was most highly and loudly approved of. The magistrates who called the meeting retired with one or two of their friends, amidst groans, hisses, and cries of “sneaking off, — sneaking_off, — stole

away, stole away." Mr. Jameson then moved the 4th resolution, which was unanimously agreed to amidst the loudest plaudits. It was then moved that these resolutions be inserted in the Berwick Advertiser, and in the Alfred London paper, which was agreed to.-On the motion of Mr. Jameson, that a committee be appointed to revise and correct the petition which had been read by the chairman, to be presented to the house of Commons for a reform thereof, and that it be signed by the chairman and the committee in behalf of the meeting, was unanimously agreed to.--