false, though the truth of the publications | continued swimming in the head, and a of your Petitioner has never been called in question. partial stagnation of the circulation of the blood in his feet, he found, after trial, that the walking on the stones and the circular direction in which he was obliged to walk aggravated his disorder to such an excess, that he was obliged to abandon the attempt; and, although he represented this frequently, by letter and otherwise, to the visiting Magistrates, and intreated that he might be permitted to walk in the garden, as Mr. Gilbert Wakefield, Mr. Redhead Yorke, and all other prisoners in similar situations, had been permitted to do before him, this was refused him, until he partially obtained the indulgence, through the benevolent interposition of Mr. Calcraft, one of the Magistrates for the County, and the representation being first made to him by the Medical Gentleman attending the prison, that he considered your Petitioner's being permitted to walk in the garden essential to the preservation of his health. In consequence of this interference and this representation, your Petitioner has, since the 15th of October last, been permitted to walk in the gar den, in company of the Gaoler of the prison, for the very limited space of one half an hour every day, and which limited Your Petitioner also humbly states, that, when he was removed from the prison of the Court of King's Bench to the County Gaol of Dorchester, he was consigned to the Magistrates' custody, as will appear from an Order of Sessions, made at the Midsummer Quarter - Sessions for the County of Dorset, respecting his treat ment in confinement, though by the Law of the Land, he could only be committed to the Sheriffs' custody, (allowing for the sake of argument, that he might be imprisoned in a different county from that in which the offence was committed, and it is allowed for the sake of argument only). Now, the Magistrates of any county have no jurisdiction except what is given them by Statute, and no jurisdiction is given to them by Statute over a person convicted of misdemeanor, who is, during his confinement, emphatically, a Sheriff's Prisoner. Your Petitioner, therefore, is placed by his sentence in a situation which the law knows not, and therefore he prays the consideration of his case may receive the attention of this Honourable House, not on his personal account, but as his treatment may be drawn into a precedent ini-indulgence your Petitioner's health has mical to the freedom and liberties of the Subjects of these realms. That your Petitioner further submits to your Honourable House some peculiar privations and hardships to which he has been subjected since his confinement in Dorchester-Gaol, which commenced on the evening of the 6th of July, 1808, and when your Petitioner was labouring under a very severe and afflicting state of illness, which had been proved to the Judges of the Court of King's Bench by the affidavits of four most respectable Medical Gentlemen. That notwithstanding this infirm state of your Petitioner's health, he was denied, by the controlling Magistrates of Dorchester prison, for the interval of more than three months, viz. from the 6th of July to the 15th of the ensuing. October, all access to the open air, even to the taking ordinary exercise, unless your Petitioner would take the same in a small circular stone yard, which was allotted in common for prisoners who were sentenced for fines, such as Smugglers and those who had evaded the Excise-Laws, &c. &c. Your Petitioner's complaint being a long standing bilious disorder, attended with a complication of alarming symptoms, among which he was subject to an almost been such as almost to preclude him from availing himself of. Your Petitioner, therefore, humbly submits to this Honourable House that such extreme coercion and restriction is not necessary for the secure confinement of your Petitioner, and is inconsistent with the benign spirit of the British Constitution. Your Petitioner, in candor and justice, begs leave to state that he considers this restriction as being personally cruel towards him, because, since his confinement in the Gaol of Dorchester, an unlimited indulgence in walking in the garden has been extended to a FELON, by the partial courtesy of the Magistrates, and your Petitioner having given no cause of complaint against the propriety of his conduct, to justify such restriction. In addition to this heavy grievance, your Petitioner begs to state that his family consists of a wife and two sons :-that, from the enjoyment of all personal intercourse with one of his sons, whose business confines him in London, he is wholly bereaved, by the great distance which separates them:-that his wife and his other son have taken lodgings at Dorchester, at an immense increased expense to your Petitioner, for the purpose of mitigating his calamity as much as possible by the com lative to the recent INQUIRY in the House of Commons, respecting the Conduct of the DUKE OF YORK. (Continued from p.658.) BURGH OF ANNAN, (continued.) 2. Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to sir Francis Burdett, bart., lord visc. Folkestone, J. C. Curwen, esq., S. Whitbread, forts of their society; but hitherto they have only been admitted, by the order of the Magistrates, alternately to visit him for three days in a week, and each day limited to eight hours, with the exception of your Petitioner's wife, for some weeks past, having been permitted to be with him on a Sunday, and during the night, in consequence of the Medical Gentleman attend-esq., general Fergusson, and sir S. Romilly, ing him having given it as his opinion that it was indispensibly necessary, on account of the alarming state of your Petitioner's health. Your Petitioner trusts that this Honour able House will. liberally consider what a cruel aggravation this must be, merely arising from the local rules of the Magistrates, and neither expressed in the sentence, nor warranted by the Bill of Rights; for, surely every father and husband must deem that imprisonment cruel which confines a man for three years, and allows him only twenty-four hours in each week to have intercourse with his wife and child. That your Petitioner has confined himself, in these instances, to a simple statement of facts, and commits the whole to the benignity, discretion, and wisdom, of your Honourable House. knt., and to the other members, who voted in support of Mr. Wardle's motion, and to the Minority who spoke or voted against the motion of the right hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 3. Resolved unanimously, That the Evidence lately brought before the House of Commons-the discussion that followed on that evidence-and the decision of the majority, afford the most convincing proof, that such a Reform as will place the ministers of the crown under the controul of an independant and vigilant Parliament, consisting of the true representatives of the people, is essentially necessary to the safety of this kingdom; and in short, that all the steps which have hitherto been taken in this most momentous affair, are of no avail, but as they stand preparatory to a radical Reform in the Commons House of Parliament. 4. Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to the independent Citizens of London and Westminster, for the manly and patriotic manner, in which they have come forward on the present occasion, as well as upon others of a similar nature, with a free expression of their sentiments, thereby affording a glorious example to the other in Your Petitioner submits to the consideration of this Honourable House, the extreme severity of the sentence passed upon him, as being contrary to the Rights and Liberties of every British subject in these realms, guaranteed to them by the Bill of Rights, which expressly says, "that excessive fines ought not to be imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted," your Petitioner having already suffered, under a state of severe and dangerous ill-habitants of the kingdom. And the Meetness, upwards of nine months imprisonment and banishment in Dorchester-Gaol, from his home, his business, and the County where he was tried, and which has already subjected him to a pecuniary expense of upwards of £.500, and which, unless mitigated by the interference of this Honourable House, it is more than probable will prove fatal to the life of your Petitioner, and ruinous to his circumstances, and future welfare of his family. ing are impelled. by their feelings to express a hope, that these patriotic bodies of men will persevere in the noble cause they have espoused, and which from their local situation they are so well calculated to maintain, until corruption, chased from all its hiding places, shall have fled the country, and left the constitution to operate on its true and genuine principles. 5. Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to Richard Forest, esq., Provost of this Burgh, for the promptness and alacrity with which he acquiesced in the request to call the present Meeting; and to Bailie Scott, the Chairman of the Meeting, for the becoming manner in which he has conducted himself HENRY WHITE. while in the Chair. And your Petitioner most humbly craves that he may be permitted to prove the truth of his allegation before a Select Committee, or at the Bar of your Honourable House, and he prays such relief as in your wisdom shall seem meet. PROCEEDINGS 6. Resolved unanimously, That these Resolutions be signed by the Chairman, and inserted in a London newspaper, and in such of the provincial papers as will give sufficient publicity to the sentiments they contain-(Signed) JAMES SCOTT, Chairman. BOROUGH OF CARMARTHEN. At a Meeting of the Mayor, Burgesses, and respectable Inhabitants of the said Borough, held at the Guildhall, in the said Borough, on the 5th of April, 1809, convened in pursuance of a requisition delivered to the Mayor of the said Corporation for a Common Hall to consider of the propriety of addressing a Vote of Thanks to COLONEL WARDLE, for his conduct in Parliament on a late occasion.-WILLIAM MORGAN, esq. Deputy Mayor, in the Chair. It was unanimously Resolved, visc. Folkestone, S. Whitbread, esq. sir S. Romilly, kut. general Ferguson, and the rest of the glorious Minority, who so ably supported Col. Wardle through his arduous undertakings in the late Investiga tion. TOWN OF SHEFFIELD. At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of Sheffield (at which not less than Five Thousand Persons were assembled), convened by public Advertisement, and held this day April 12, at the Cutlers'-hall, and adjourned from thence to Paradise-square, Mr. E. RHODES, Master Cutler, in the Chair. It was Resolved unanimously,--1. That, ardently as we wish to promote the welfare and prosperity of our country, and warmly attached as we are to its true Constitutional Government, we cannot but deeply lament, that such shameful instances of corruption, such undue influence, and such unwarrantable practices, should ever have existed, as have been developed by the late proceedings of the House of Commons. Resolved unanimously,-2. That Gwyllym Lloyd Wardle, esq., by instituting the Inquiry which has brought this scene of corruption before the judgment of the public, has deserved eminently well of his country, and that the Thanks of this Meeting, with feelings of respectful gratitude, be presented to him for the manly, firm, and independent manner in which, amidst great discouragements; undaunted by threats of infamy and heavy responsibility; equally unconnected with, and unsupported by party-he has conducted this important and patriotic Inquiry. That conscious of the blessings we derive from the Constitution under which we live, and anxious to perpetuate them pure and unsullied, we cannot but look on every man who has courage and manliness to oppose the inroad of corruption, and stem the torrent of vice, by which its excellencies are perverted, and even its vitality endangered, as the best friend to the Throne, the truest friend to his country. Impressed with this conviction, we cannot but be sensible of the services rendered by Col. Wardle, who, with unexampled intrepidity and most persevering industry, so eminently, and so honourably displayed on a late occasion in Parliament, instituted and prosecuted inquiries into abuses tending to the degradation of the Army, and subversive of its dearest interests; which, in opposition to every discouragement and difficulty, he made manifest to the nation, and for which he is justly entitled to the approbation and acknowledgments of every well-wisher to his King and his Country. Resolved unanimously,-3. That we We, therefore, participating in the gene- also wish to convey the Approbation and ral sentiment of gratitude such patriotism the Thanks of this Meeting to sir Francis merits, and in some degree also actuated Burdett, who seconded Mr. Wardle's Moby a laudable, though national feeling of tion, to lord Folkestone, Mr. Whitbread, pride and exultation, that the object of sir Samuel Romilly, general Ferguson, this Address derives his origin from Cam-admiral Markham, and all those Members brian Blood, beg leave to tender to G. L. Wardle, esq. our grateful acknowledgments for the services done to his country: and while we thus cordially return him our thanks, we cannot but regret that, restricted as we are by the Constitution of our Charter, we are prevented from gratifying our warmest wishes in presenting to so honourable and independent a character the Freedom of our ancient Borough. of the House of Commous who voted in the Minorities on the several questions which arose in the course of this most interesting Investigation. Resolved unanimously,-4. That the particular Thanks of this Meeting be given to William Wilberforce, esq., and the right hon. lord visc. Milton, the two Representatives of this extensive and populous county, for the discriminating and inResolved, That the Thanks of this Meet-dependent sanction and support afforded ing, as well as of the whole country, are by them to Mr. Wardle, in his meritojustly due to sir F. Burdett, bart. lord rious efforts to detect and counteract abuses so injurious to the real interests of the Government, and so detrimental to the welfare of the people. we 3. Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Meeting are in a special manner due to sir Francis Burdett, bart.; to lord viscount Folkestone, to lord viscount Althorpe, to S. Whitbread, esq., to sir S. Romilly, to major general Ferguson, and to C. W. Wynne, esq., for their able, manly, and patriotic exertion on the above occasion. Resolved unanimously,-5. That, thus openly express our sentiments, conceiving it to be the duty of a Free People, when strongly urged by transactions which materially affect the essential interests of the whole community, to declare their opinions, unbiassed by party consideration, in order that independent men may be thereby encouraged steadily to pursue those just, rational, and constitutional measures which will eventually root out every species of corruption, and prevent the repetition of similar evil practices, and which will also prove an effectual security against a profuse and unneces-him, he held upon the occasion, but which sary expenditure of public money. Resolved unanimously,-6. That these Resolutions be transcribed on parchment, and remain for signatures at the Cutlers'Hall, for 14 days from the date hereof. Resolved unanimously,-7. That these Resolutions be printed and published in Hand-bills, in the Sheffield Papers, and otherwise, as the Chairman and the Gentlemen who moved the Resolutions may direct.-E. RHODES. 4. Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to our worthy Representatives, William Gorden, esq., and A. Robarts, esq., to the first for the Vote which he so honourably gave with Mr. Wardle; and the latter for the conscientious and correct view, which it appears by a letter now produced from we are sorry to learn his ill state of health prevented him from following up with his vote. 5. Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to the hon. William H. Lyttelton, M. P. for this County, to the hon. Andrew Foley and sir Thomas Winnington, bart. M. P. for the Borough of Droitwich, and to Humphry Haworth, esq., M. P. for the Borough of Evesham, both within this County, and to the other Members composing the Minority of 125 who divided with Mr. Wardle. WORCESTER, APRIL 13, 1809. At a very numerous and respectable 6. Resolved unanimously, That his Meeting of the Freemen and other inhabi- Royal Highness the Duke of York, by retants of this City in Common Hall assem-signing his situation of Commander in bled, pursuant to Public Notice, in order to consider of the Propriety of coming to certain Resolutions relative to the late Investigation into the Conduct of the Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Land Forces.-HERBERT ROGERS, esq. Mayor, in the Chair. The following Resolutions were agreed to; Chief, has acted in conformity with the wishes of the people in opposition to the Majority of the House of Commons, and it is the opinion of this Meeting, that if any Person, at any future period, should advise his Majesty to reinstate him, be will, by such advice, prove himself an encmy to his Country. Resolved unanimously, 1. That it is the 7. Resolved, That the late Decision in opinion of this Mecting that the late In- the House of Commons has disappointed vestigation into the Conduct of the Com-the hopes and expectations of the people, mander in Chief of his Majesty's Land Forces, has disclosed the existence of gross Abuses and Corruption in that and other Departments of the State. 2. Resolved unanimously, That Gwyllim Lloyd Wardle, esq., for the dauntless intrepidity displayed by him in proposing the said Investigation, and for the cool, yet steady perseverance with which he conducted himself to the termination thereof, is entitled to the Thanks of this Meeting, and in their estimation to the gratitude of his Country. and convinces us of the necessity of a speedy and effectual Reform in the Representation of the Commons in Parliament, as a security to the Throne, a support to the nobility, and a safe-guard to the people against that tide of corruption, which has laid so many nations of Europe prostrate at the feet of the ruler of France. The above Resolutions were carried by a large Majority. (Signed) HERBERT ROGERS, Chairman and Mayor, (To be continued.) LONDON:-Printed by T. C. HANSARD, Peterborough - Court, Fleet - Street; Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges -Street, Covent - Garden :---Sold also by J, BUDD, Pall - Mall. VOL. XV. No. 19.] 705] LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1809. [Price 1s. "Do you think it possible to get nie a vote on Monday, for Pitt's motion?" -[706 SUMMARY OF POLITICS. nor is it to be believed, that they had AUSTRIA.The reader will, perhaps, neglected to secure the means of covering remember, that, when the present war be- their retreat. Yet, down they fall like so tween Austria and France was first talked many men made of paste-board. No, no: of, I endeavoured to convince the minis- it is evident, that they had no stomach terial writers, that their joy at the prospect for the fight; and, when that is the case, of such a war would speedily be turned numbers, and what is called discipline, are into mourning; and that, by their exer- of no avail. —— Some persons expressed tions to urge Austria on to war, they were, great admiration of the Archduke's Prosupposing their exertions to have any ef- clamations upon entering Germany; his fect, urging her on to her destruction. complaints against the ambition of NapoThe editor of the Morning Chronicle made leon, and his protestations about the Emsimilar observations, and for so doing he peror of Austria's desire to preserve peace. was most severely censured by his party Alas! these were known well enough beopponents, who, according to their old fore. But, in these what interest had the manner of turning every thing to a party people of Germany? Aye, or the people account, accused his friends of wishing to of Austria? The question with them was: see Buonaparté master of the continent," shall we be worse off under the Emperor and who failed not to hold themselves forth | " Napoleon than under the Emperor as the real friends of the "liberties," as "Francis?" This was the question, and they termed it, of Europe. The recently received intelligence must, one would suppose, have convinced these AntiJacobins, that we were right, and that they were wrong. But, it is no matter whether they be so convinced, or not. Their readers, indeed, one would desire to see undeceived; yet, perhaps, it may, since deception has been carried on so long, be full as well to leave the work of removing that deception to time and events. The fate of Austria will do little, perhaps, in the way of warning to despotic governments. They have already had so many warnings, that, it really seems, that they are doomed to destruction. Talk of armies, indeed! What has this famous army of Austria done? Suppose the French to have made only thirty thousand prisoners: I believe, that they have made all they say they have made; but, suppose it to be only thirty thousand; how are thirty thousand men to be made prisoners, in an open country, against their will? There is no such thing. It cannot be. Why, that must occupy a length of line of six or seven miles. What can surround six or seven miles? Only consider how many men it must take to surround a line of six or seven miles long. The Austrians were the first in the field; they had chosen their ground; the only rational question, with them. |