its stages, before I shall believe that it will ever be acted upon. Who is to consummate the work of making such a law? The Regent? Why, if it require a law to make him Regent, he cannot be Regent, till the law is complete; and, of course, he cannot give his sanction to a bill, by which he is to be constituted Regent. So that, if this measure, if this proceeding by the way of bill, should be adopted, we shall, for once in our lives, see an Act passed; a law made and put in force, upon the authority of the TWO HOUSES alone.—— The mode of proceeding by way of Address is the natural way. It is a mode corresponding with our settled notions relative to the Kingly office and powers; it has no jumble or inconsistency in it, and, which is another great recommendation, it obviates all further delay, all further suspension of the exercise of those powers, which, as MR. ADAM observed, are trusts in the hands of the King for the good of his people, an observation, which, as will be seen in my motto, was made by the Prince himself, in his Answer to the Propositions of 1788. But, if the mode of proceeding of 1788 was improper then; if procrastination was then not to be tolerated, what are we to think of it now, when it is impossible that the Kingly functions can be suspended for a week without serious injury to the nation, unless we were to agree, that they are never of any use at all. I do not, and I have not in any instance, viewed this as a party question; and, as such it ought never to be viewed; but, I cannot help observing, with regard to the paragraphs, which have appeared in the venal prints, respecting the resolution of the Prince to make no changes of men in power, first, that I do not believe the fact; but, secondly, and chiefly, that to make any mere changes of men would produce no consequences, in which the nation would feel at all inter Thus then, after the King has been declared unable to attend to public business for the space of nearly two months, a bill, it seems, is to be proposed on the 20th instant, to authorize some one to exercise the royal functions, which bill, to say nothing else of it, may be a month, or, as long as the Houses please, under discussion; and, of course, the exercise of the royal functions may still remain suspended for an indefinite length of time.I have before stated fully my reasons against any abridgment of the Kingly powers, in the hands of the Prince, all which reasons apply with equal force against any delay in putting those powers into his hands; for, if the exercise of those powers can be, without injury to the nation, dispensed with for months, what must be the inevitable conclusion? If for months, why not for years? And, if for years, why not for ever?--It is, to me, as clear as the sun at noon day, that every measure of this sort strikes at the very foundation of the Kingly part of the constitution; and, I do think, that this is so plain, that I am utterly astonished how any man can view it, or pretend to view it, in any other light.--Looking upon what Mr. SHERIDAN said as corresponding with the sentiments of His Royal Highness, the Prince, I must confess, that it gives me great satisfaction, containing, as I regard it, a proof, that he is not eager to grasp at his father's power, and that he will not take it into his hands accompanied with any degrading conditions. It is true, that no conditions or limitations limitations were suggested, or hinted at; but, if the precedent, as it is called, of 1788, of the two Houses in England, is to be followed as to a bill to vest him with the office of Regent, is it not to be presumed, that the bill then proposed will also be taken as a precedent? And, against the terms of that bill, we know that the Prince protested. But, how can a bill be passed, or even entertained? On allested, or in which they really would have sides it has been agreed, that the two Houses without a King are not a parliament. How, then, can they pass, or discuss a bill? It is allowed, on all hands, that they cannot, in their present state, pass a road or canal bill; and can they then, make a law to transfer the Kingly power from the hands of the King to those of the Prince of Wales! There appears to me to be something so manifestly inconsistent in this, that I must see the project seriously entertained, I must see the bill before the Houses and through some of any, even the smallest degree, of interest. I am not pretending, that one set of men may not have more talents than another set, but what of that, if those talents are not usefully exerted? I mean usefully for the people, and not exclusively for themselves.Perhaps there never was, in the whole world,any nation exposed to so great danger as that to which England is now exposed. She has long held her head as high as the highest, and she must still so carry herself, or she must become a vassal, a dependence of France. There is no other let them point to one single instance, in which he refused his hearty assent to any measure calculated to support the dignity and splendour of the Crown, or to afford personal gratification to any member of of the Royal Family. They can point to no such instance; but, they may point to several, in which he has explicitly protested against such measures as tended to make any of the branches of the Royal Family dependent upon the minister of the day. The reader will want nothing to persuade him, that this conduct in SIR FRANCIS BURDETT did not arise from any motive of private interest. He wants nothing, and never has wanted any thing, from any part of the Royal Family, except what, in common with the rest of the people; he had a right to expect at their hands. There is nothing that they could bestow upon him, "asan individual, that he would set any value? upon, except marks of their esteem. Hel has, in this part of his conduct, been guided by the principles of the constitu tion; those same principles which have urged him, and which still will urge him to call for a parliamentary reform; that re form, without which the people of this kingdom, will, in my opinion, never be cordially united; and without which their country will never again enjoy one mo ment of real peace or safety. alternative. No compromising, no affected moderation, no submission in part, will save her, or even postpone her overthrow for one single bour. This is my decided opinion. And, in spite of the overwhelming power and implacable hostility, with which she is menaced, she still possesses in herself all the means, not only of defence, but of maintaining her wonted greatness. These means, however, are of a nature not to be exerted without two things, Conciliation in Ireland, and a constitutional reform of Parliament; and to both which there is, I trust, every reason to suppose, that his Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, is perfectly friendly. I was told this, and from what I deemed good authority, long ago; and I sincerely believe it.These measures adopted, we might, indeed, laugh at Napoleon and his fleets. He will have fleets. It is useless to affect to laugh at the idea; for have them he will. It is not in our power to prevent his having fleets, and powerful fleets too; and, the way for us to set them at defiance is to unite the people of Ireland and England, and to give them one heart and one mind in their country's defence. The Letter of SIR WILLIAM GEARY, which I subjoin to this Summary, speaks the sentiments of an honest uncorrupted English gentleman as to parliamentary reform, which, as he justly observes, is not less necessary to the preservation of the constitutional prerogatives of the king than to that of the rights and liberties of the people. Will the venal herd say that SIR WILLIAM GEARY is a Jacobin? It is likely they may; but, I trust, that the Prince of Wales has profited too much from the fate of so many old governments to listen to such assertions. He must, too, I should think, have observed at home, that those, who ave been most strenuous in their endeavours to obtain a reform of the Com-fication to me, to have stated' at the late nons' House of Parliament, have in- County Meeting, held at Maidstone, the ariably set their face against all at means, which to my mind, appear adeempts to deprive the Crown of its just quate to bring about that Reform in Parliarerogatives, and, especially against all ment, which was there decided upon as he numerous vile attempts to lower and necessary, by an unanimous vote; but a egrade him in the eyes of the people. conviction that a popular Meeting is ill There have been, before parliament, se- calculated for the discussion of the detail eral measures, relative to His Royal of a subject, restrained me at the moment. ighness, since SIR FRANCIS BURDETT, theThe means which appear to me as sufreat champion of Reform, has been a ficient to secure this great national object ember of the House of Commons. Let are these : **** e slanderers of the Honourable Baronet d the pretended friends of the Crown int to one of them, in which Sir Francis not take the side of the Prince, WM. COBBETT. State Prison, Newgate, SIR WILLIAM GEARY'S LETTER ON PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. To the Editors of the Kentish Chronicle. Ist, That in all Boroughs the right of voting should be in the inhabitants paying rates or some Tax, proving an equivalent occupation. That their numbers must amount to not less than five hundred. That the number of voters paying Rates, or some Tax, proving an equivalent occupa tion, should be returned to parliament every three years, and that any deficiency should be made up from the adjacent villages. That all Boroughs at present in habited by less than five hundred paying rates, or some Tax, proving an equivalent occupation, shall be disfranchised, and their Members added to the great towns not having the elective franchise, and to London and Westminster.. 2ndly, That the Poll for counties be taken by the districts in which the Justices act in their petty Session.The Sheriff to appoint a sheriff depute for each district, who shall meet him with the Polls of their different districts at the County Town: and from these Polls he is to make bis return. Every voter to vote in the district in which he resides; his freehold to be registered in the district in which he resides, and also in the district in which the freehold is situated. A voter, being a non-resident in the county, must vote in the district in which his freehold is situated 3rdly, All voters to vote by ballot. 4thly,-Parliaments to be triennial. By increasing the number of voters in Boroughs, and voting by ballot, corruption would be annihilated: the honest voter might exercise his franchise without fear of ruin, and the dishonest voter would not be able to barter his country's interest for his own; as no one would bribe a secret vote. By voting by districts in Counties, Elections would be held without expence; and Candidates, who possess talents for business, and feelings calculated to maintain the honour of Parliament, to support a good Administration, and to oppose a bad one, would never be wanting in this country. The voting by ballot is requisite to the freedom of Election. That Parliaments should be triennial, is essential to the spirit of representation.-I have now stated what appears to me to be an easy remedy to a great and flagrant national evil. I have stated a Plan of Reform in Parliament, which at the same time, I think, is moderate and radical. If I am mistaken, I trust justice will be done to my motiveAfter the active part I have taken, as one of those who called the County Meeting, I have done but my duty in making this statement. Some men, from the best motives, fear the discussion of this subject in the present situation of the country. I own I fear the consequence of not discussing it. The conquests on the Continent should deeply impress upon our minds this political truth, that the victories of a foreign foe are easy, when a people are rendered indifferent to the honour and glory of their country, by the imbecility of their political state. The evil to be remedied is of a radical nature-it strikes at the root of all principle. The barter of Ministerial Patronage for Parliamentary Influence is now notorious and established it extends through all professions and all depart ments of the state-a bar to merit, and a reward to corruption; thereby diminish ing the salutary effects and consequences of the prerogative of the Crown, weakening the legitimate power and energy of the Executive through all its branches; and ultimately influencing and destroying the check of the democratic part of the Constitution-the vital principle of Liberty in our system of government. I am, Sirs, Your humble Servant, WM GEARY. OFFICIAL PAPERS. PORTUGAL.Extract of a Dispatch from his Excellency Marshal General Lord Wellington to his Excellency Don Miguel Pereira Forjaz, dated Cartaxo, November 24th, 1810. I have received accounts from General Silveira, the dates of which come down to the 16th inst. The advanced corps of the enemy having reached Pinhel, the abovementioned General attacked and drove back their advanced posts on the 14th, taking 4 officers and many soldiers pri soners, and killing and wounding a great number. Gen. Silveira states that our loss consists of about 30 killed and nearly the same number wounded. He commends in the strongest terms the good conduct of the officers and soldiers, and particularly those of the Portuguese regiment, No. 24. Inclosed I transmit to your Excellency a copy of the dispatch of Gen. Silveira, of the date the 16th of the present month. MOST EXCELLENT SIR,-I yesterday had the honour to communicate to your Excellency the result of the action which I had with the enemy, though I am not able as yet to give you a more circumstancial account, as I have not received the returns of the different corps engaged, but I can assure your Excellency, that the loss of the enemy was greater than I stated it yesterday, and I believe that ours does not exceed 25 or 30 men, and the number of the wounded was about the same. Yesterday, after the action, the enemy rallied in the plain leading from Valverde to Cobesso; and I collected my whole division on the other side of that village, and began to retire upon Pinhel, without the enemy daring to attack my rear-guard, as he believed that only a part of the troops had been engaged in the action, and that the principal force remained on the brow of the mountain, where I had placed some pieces of artillery for that purpose. I caused the troops to rest and refresh themselves at Pinhel. I then retired along this side of the river Tiga, and to-day marched into these quarters, The enemy entered Pinhel in the night, and immediately di#vided into two columns, one of which took the road to Marialva, and the other to Frixedas, though I cannot exactly vouch for the accuracy of this.-God preserve your Excellency. FRANCISCO DE SILVEIRA.-Head- quarters, Francoso, Nov. 16, 1810.-P. S. I am persuaded that the enemy for these two or three days, conformable to what the prisoners tell me, cannot attack me with more than 7,000 men. PORTUGAL. Copy of an Official Communication from Lord Wellington to his Excellency Don Miguel Pereira Forjaz, bearing date the 21st Nov. 1810. The enemy has retreated from the position which he occupied during the last month, his right being supported by Sobral, and the left by Riba-Tejo. His retreat took place in the night between the 13th and 14th inst. in the direction of Alenquer and Alcoentre with his right, and his left fell back by the road of Villa Nova; in the same manner he continued his retreat the following days to the environs of Santarem. The allied Army filed off from the positions it occupied in the morning of the 15th instant following the enemy's march, and the advanced guard of this army reached Alenquer on the 15th of this month, while on the 16th the English horse with the advanced guard arrived in Azambujor and Alcoentre, and on the 17th in this place. During this movement about 400 of the enemy's troops were taken prisoners. The troops above-mentioned were followed on their march by the division commanded by Sir Brent Spencer, and by the 5th division of foot under the orders of MajorGen. Leith.-On the 17th inst. I received a report from Major-Gen. Fane, from the left banks of the Tagus, by which he informs me that the enemy has constructed a second bridge across the Zezere, the first which he threw over that river having been carried away by the floods. The said Major-General also acquaints me that the enemy detached the said day a large body of troops to Tolegau. I immediately ordered Lieut.-General Hill, with the corps under his command, to cross over to the left bank of the Tagus, and to embark for that purpose in Valluda in the boats which Admiral Berkeley had sent thither, for the purpose of facilitating the operations of the army.-On the 18th instant, the British cavalry and advanced guard found the enemy so strongly posted in front of Santarem, that it was utterly impossible to attack him with any hope of success; and although I am informed by our posts on the left bank of the Tagus, that the enemy continue to send troops and baggage along the road, which lies on the right bank of the Tagus, in the direc tion of Zezere, yet his advanced guard continues to maintain itself in the same post, having there, as well as in Santarem, a sufficient number of troops to hold out in the strong position of Santarem, and repel any attack which might be made on his front.-The incessant rain which we have had ever since the 15th inst. has detroyed the roads in such a manner, that I have, as yet, found it impossible to dislodge the enemy from the position which he occupies in Santarem; the bad condition of the roads is also the reason why the enemy continues so long in Santarem. Although the enemy has moved large bodies of troops from Santarem to the eastward, I know not that he has as yet sent any considerable corps to the other banks of the Zezere. I cannot, therefore, as yet form any certain opinion whether the enemy means entirely to retreat from Portugal. His whole army being now present between Santarem and the Zezere, he finds himself in a situation which enables him to maintain the strong position he occupies until he shall have been joined by the reinforcements, which, I know, have reached the frontiers-I have not received any further intelligence from General Silveira, who finds himself on the frontiers of Upper Beira, since the 9th of this month. Under that day's date he informed me of the movements of the enemy's different corps in Gallicia, which, I suppose, consist in the whole of 20,000 men, and are at present employed in levying contributions of provisions for the army of Portugal. This intelligence has been confirmed by information received from Salamanca of a more recent date. Having advanced from the position where I had taken post, and drawn the enemy to a point where he was compelled to fall back without attempting any attack, I feel obliged, in order to render justice to Lieutenant Colonel Fletcher, and to the officers of the Royal Engineers, to call your Excellency's attention to the diligence and skill with which they constructed the fortifications, whereby they rendered the said position so strong that any attack on the allied army must have proved extremely disadvantageous to the enemy. The French army may be reinforced, and I may once more be induced to return to the same position, in the present state of the Peninsula, but I do not suppose that it will be in the power of the enemy to employ against it any force able to render the result of the conflict dubious. For these advantages we are indebted to Lieut.-Colo nel Fletcher, and the Officers of the Royal Corps of Engineers, among whom I must make particular mention of Capt. Chapman, who has already repeatedly rendered me the most signal services.--By my dispatches of the 20th Oct. I informed your Excellency, that the Marquis de la Romana had joined the allied army in the fortified position in front of Lisbon, bring ing with him considerable detachments of the Spanish troops under his orders. The Marquis remains still with us, and favours me with very valuable advice and assistance. During the time we occupied the above position the service was performed with the utmost regularity, and to my entire satisfaction-although the force by which it was defended consisted of different troops and divers nations.-Lieut.General Sir B. Spencer, and Marshal Sir W. C. Beresford, and all the Officers of the Staff of the Army, have continued to render me all the services in their power. Head-Quarters, Cartaxo, Nov. 21, 1810. WELLINGTON. PORTUGAL Supplement Extraordinary to the Lisbon Gazette, Nov. 25-Official Dispatch from Marshal Beresford to his Excellency Miguel Pereira Forjat. Most Excellent Sir-I have the honour, with great satisfaction, to transmit to your Excellency the inclosed from General Silveira, dated 15th November, in which the Lords Governors of the kingdom will be informed of a glorious action near Pinher, in which the enemy was completely defeated, and with considerable loss in killed and prisoners. We likewise discover in the same document the good conduct and valour of the native troops, and the distinguished manner in which that Commander contributes to the defence of the country. Most Excellent Sir-We marched upon Pinhel while the enemy advanced upon Pereiro, Gamelas, and Valverde. This morning I attacked him, supposing his force to be much less considerable; but, although his force consisted of six squadrons and three of lancers, I had the success to put him to the route, and although his infantry was much superior in number to ours, 300 of his troops lie dead on the field and among them 8 or 10 officers. We have besides many prisoners, and with them 4 officers. I cannot by this oppor tunity enter into the details, but I have the pleasure to assure you of the good conduct of the officers and soldiers in general. The cavalry commanded by Luiz Paulino, deserve particular praise, as well as the chasseurs of the militia and the battalion of infantry, No. 21. Major F. Taxeira Lobo, behaved with the same spirit he displayed on the 4th of August, in Puebla. This officer, as well as Luiz Paulino, was slightly wounded by the Lancers. 6 The commander of the vanguard,” inColonel Anto Man. de Carvalho, acted intirely to my satisfaction. My loss was very small, but we had 1 Brigadier and 2 Grand-majors, killed.-God preserve you.—Head Quar ters, Camp at Pereiro, 4 p. m. 15th Nov. 1810.-FRAN. DE SILVEIRA PINTO DE FONSECA. Nov. 24.-As it may be the intention of the enemy to occupy the position he had left in the neighbourhood of the fortification of Linha, and it being of the utmost conse quence that we put in security the corn and other effects, which might fall into the hands of the French; in order that this may be effected with the activity and re gularity useful to the public service, his Royal Highness has been pleased to direct your Adjutant Commissioner, Joac Gaudenio Torres, immediately to remove the said property under the protection of the said |