above-mentioned proposition, in the teeth of the clearest and most conclusive evidence, positive as well as circumstantial, written as well as verbal; and upon which occasion it appeared that all the King's mini sters, all the placemen, and all the pensioners then present, voted a gainst the said proposition.

That, in the act of parliament, commonly called the bill of rights, it is declared, "That the election of "members of parliament ought to "be free," and, in the same act it is declared," that the violating of the "freedom of election of members to 86 serve in parliament," was one of the crimes of King James II. and one of the grounds upon which he was driven from the throne of this kingdom; bu that notwith standing this law, which is said to be one of the great bulwarks of the constitution, and notwithstanding divers other laws, made for the purpose of preventing undue returns of members of parliament, it does ap pear, from evidence given during the above said inquiry, that Lord Clancarty and Lord Viscount Castlereagh, both of them servants of the King, and the later a privy counsellor, a secretary of state, and a member of the house of commons, did offer to give a writership in the East Indies, in exchange for a seat in the house of commons, and that the failure of that corrupt negociation was owing, not to any disinclination on their part, but on the part of the seat-seller, to whom the offer was made!

:

That this meeting have observed, that during a debate in the house of commons, on the 20th of this month, upon the subjects of the aforesaid inquiry, Thomas Creevey Esq. one of the honourable minority of 125, did distinctly state, that, it was not on ly his belief, but that it was within his own knowledge, that seats in parliament had been bought and sold; that the treasury not only

openly bought and sold those seats, but kept, in a great degree, a monopoly of the market, and that it was perfectly well known, that a dissolution of parliament was not an ap peal to the people but an appeal to the treasury; and that this-meeting have further observed, that, in answer to this statement of Mr. Crecvey (for which that gentleman is entitled to our particular thanks), the King's minister, Mr. Perceval, did not attempt to deny the facts alledged, but contented himself with insinuating, that the opposite party, when in power, had been guilty of similar practices.

That from the foregoing facts, as well as from numerous others, notorious to the whole nation, this meeting have a firm conviction, that it is in the house of commons, as at present constituted, that exists the great and efficient cause of that profligacy of manners amongst so many in high life; of that corrupt disposal of offices; of that endless train of unpunished peculations; of that squandering of our earnings, and incomes; of that establishment of an army of foreigners in the heart of our country; of that incapacity in the conducting of public affairs, both at home and abroad; and of all that national misery and disgrace which have been but too long so severely felt, and the dangers to be apprehended from which have now attracted the serious attention of even the most thoughtless and unobserving.

That, therefore, this meeting, anxious alike for the preservation of his Majesty's throne and legitimate authority, and for the restoration of the rights and liberties bequeathed them by the wisdom, the fortitude, and the valour of their forefathers, hold it a duty which they owe to their Sovereign and his successors, to themselves and their children, to the safety, happiness, and renown of their country to declare their de

cided conviction, that no change for the better can reasonably be expected, without such a reform in the commons house of parliament, as shall make that house, in reality as well as in name, the representatives of the people, and not the instruments in the hands of a minister; and further to declare, that it will be expedient for us, at a future convenient time, to assemble in county-meeting, in order to consider of a petition to the King, praying that his Majesty will be graciously pleased to afford us his royal countenance and support in our constitutional efforts against a faction of borough-mongers, not less hostile to the true dignity and just prerogatives of his Majesty's crown, than to the interests and feelings of his faithful, suffering, and insulted people.

Resolved Unanimously-That the thanks of this meeting be given to Wm. Powlett Powlett, and W. Cobbett, Esqs. for the part they respectively took in calling the meeting, and for their conduct thereat.

Resolved Unanimously-That the thanks of this meeting be given to the High Sheriff, for his readiness in convening the same, and for the impartiality with which he presided.

Resolved Unanimously-That these resolutions be signed by the Sheriff, in the name, and on behalf of the meeting, and that the same be printed and published in the county papers, and in the Statesman, the Morning Chronicle, the Times, and the Courier, London newspapers; and that the Sheriff be requested to forward the vote of thanks to G. L. Wardle, Esq.

Signed on behalf of the meeting,
JOHN BLACKBURN, Sheriff.

COMMON COUNCIL OF LONDON.

(Second Meeting.) FLOWER MAYOR. At a Common Council, holden in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the

VOL. VI.

City of London, on Tuesday, the 1st day of August, 1809.

RESOLVED,

That this court did, on the 6th day of April last express its thanks and gratitude to G. L. Wardle, Esq. for his conduct in bringing forward and substantiating serious charges against the late commander in chief, which notwithstanding the majority in his favour, in the house of Commons, compelled his resignation.-That no circumstance has since transpired which can in any manner lessen the importance of that investigation, impeach his motives, or affect the merits of the case. On the contrary, his unwearied exertions, perseverance, and fortitude, under unexampled threats and difficulties have developed a scene of scandalous abuse and corruption, not only in the army but in various departments of the

state.

That it has been discovered by the said investigation, that these abuses have extended, not only to the disposal of church and East India patronage, but also to the disposal of seats in the legislature, and charges have been brought forward and proofs offered, implicating in such corrupt and illegal traffic Lord Vis count Castlereagh, the Hon. Spencer Perceval, and the Hon. Henry Wellesley, all members of the house, and then and now holding ostensible situations in his Majesty's government, a traffick which, in the language of the Speaker of the house of Commons, "WOULD BRING A GREATER SCANDAL UPON THE PARLIAMENT AND THE NATION THAN

THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER KNOWN SINCE PARLIAMENT HAS HAD AN EXISTENCE."

That the said investigation has also led to the discovery, that the said Lord Castlereagh, one of his Majesty's secretaries of state, and late President of the board of controul, did, in flagrant breach of his

duty as a minister, abuse of his patronage, and gross violation of the constitution, place a writership in the hands of Lord Clancarty, a member of the same board, for the purpose of obtaining for him a seat in parliament; which fact the said Lord Castlereagh has himself admitted, and, notwithstanding there appeared a smaller majority in his farour, than appeared in favour of the Duke of York, in manifest injustice to his royal highness, and gross insult to the nation, the said Lord Castlereagh still retains its official si

tuation.

That these attacks upon the vital principles of the constitution have been made without punishment or censure; and motions for inquiry into such practices have been rejected upon the alleged frequency and notoriety of them, and parliament has thereby, as well as by passing a bill to prevent the sale of seats in that house, recognized and acknowledged the corrupt influence under which it has been called together, and exercised its functions.

That it was stated by Mr. Wardle, that there was an office publicly kept open for the sale of places under government; and although such statement, when made, only excited the derision of ministers and the house, it has since appeared, that the above statement was correct; and his Majesty's ministers have indicted and convicted several persons concerned therein, and such practices were declared in the said indictment to have a tendency to degrade, vilify, and traduce, and bring into contempt the administration of the country.

That by various statements which Mr. Wardle has lately submitted to parliament, it appears, that by a correction of the frauds, abuses, corruption, and peculation, which have been found to exist in every branch of the public expenditure to which in quiry has extended, and a wise and

in

honest application of our resources, the people might be relieved from heavy and oppressive burthens, if not from the inquisitorial and most griev ous of all imposts, the tax upon come. That his conduct on this occasion seems to have drawn upon him, in a high degree, the malice and rancour of those who are interested in the continuance of these abuses.

That in the opinion of this court, individuals who devote their exertions towards exposing and correcting public abuses, are at all times entitled to the support and protec tion of the country, particularly at the present moment, when there appears an unabating effort on the part of those notoriously under the influence of government, or who participate in the existing frauds, corruptions, and peculations, to cry down, vilify, and traduce every man who has courage and integrity to expose such practices, in order to mislead the public, and divert their attention from these great evils.

WOODTHORPE.

That in a petition presented to the said house, and entered on its jour nals, on the 9th of December, 1790, it was averred, that "seats therein were as notoriously rented and bought as the standings for cattle at a fair," which assertion was then resented in that house as "6 scandalous and libellous." But when Lord Castlereagh was, on the 11th of May last, accused of having sold a seat, he was screened from punishment on the plea of the extreme notority of the practice; a practice which various of its members unblushingly justified.

That when seats in the commons house of parliament are bought and sold, the people, their laws and liberties, are bought and sold.

That while these corruptions continue to exist, the people are deprived of their lawful share of the government, by representation in the commons house of parliament, which share has been usurped by a corrupt and unconstitutional oligarchy of borough-mongers.

That reform on constitutional principles encourages us to hope that the expences, disorders, and tumults attending elections would be avoidedthe rights and liberties of the people secured-taxes reduced-the unequal and grievous impositions of the property tax removed, and future burthens prevented-corruption then would be no longer necessary, much less avowed to be necessary for the administration of public affairs.

That the King and his people have but one interest, but borough-mongers have an interest separate from each, and inimical to both; and as a complete reform in the representation is the only means of destroying the corrupt influence of the latter, so it is particularly requisite in these times for the preservation of both King and people.

That the thanks of this meeting be given to Sir F. Burdett, Bart. for calling on the house to take into

consideration the necessity of reform in the representation; that he be requested to renew his motion early in the next session. And that we recommend to counties, cities, large towns, and boroughs, to press the subject on the attention of the house of commons, by respectful and earnest petitions.

It was moved and seconded that a petition be presented to the ho nourable house of commons, which petition having been read and agreed to, it was resolved

That the petition now read be signed by the sheriffs and freehol ders, and delivered to George Byng, Esq. to be presented to the house.

That George Byng, Esq. and William Mellish, Esq. our representatives in parliament, are hereby instructed to support the same.

That the thanks of this meeting be given to George Byng, Esq. one of our representatives, for his general conduct in parliament, and for his efforts in favour of a constitutional reform in the representation(Carried unanimously).

That the thanks of this meeting be given to Joshua Jonathan Smith, Esq. and Claudius Stephen Hunter, Esq. the high sheriff of the county, for their attention to the freeholders, in so promptly calling this meeting, and for their impartial conduct in the chair this day.--(Carried unanimously).

That an address to his Majesty be now read and considered.

The address to the King having been read;

IT WAS RESOLVED, That this court having already determined to present a petition to the house of Commons, any further petition or address is at present unnecessary.

That the thanks of this meeting be given to Major Cartwright, for his perseverance and ability in the cause of parliamentary reform.

That the above resolutions be