could be properly regarded; and sters had spread those alarms for he saw in all of them no way of purposes which they did not avow. proceeding with propriety but by He thould, with great reluctance, inftituting a committee of inquiry. he said, put that construction npon Let us suppose, for instance, the their conduct ; but there had been whole evil was really felt as mi- fuch encouragement given to renilters had described at the begin- ports of a certain nature, that he ning of the session. What then hardly knew how to avoid taying, would follow? Most certainly the that these alarms were created for adoption of a committee of inquiry, very dangerous purposes. Indeed, in order that a plan should be laid he could not refrain from obferva for our future safety. What was ing that there appeared on the part the next thing to be attended to, of his majesty's ministers, firfi

, and the next view of the subject, defire to infilame the minds of the fuppofing that ministers really ap- people to prepare them to go to prehended danger, although in war with France; and secondly, an truth there had not existed any? inclination to divert the public mind Most certainly that a commitiee from the question of parliamentary 1hould be appointed to inquire, and reform, for the purpole of conceales that they might make their reporting the apostacy of certain indiviupon the fituation of the country, duals, who do not chuse to be put it be announce it to be in a state of fafe- to the test, and tried by the public ty, and calm the apprehensions of upon the standard of their own prothe public. In the third point of feflions. As to the firft of these view, that supposing the whole to points, namely, that of intlaning be a mere device on the part of go- the minds of the people of this vernment, for the purpoie of lead- country, in order to prepare them ing the people the more easily to a for a war with France, Mr. Sheriwar with France, by persuading dan said, he need only refer to the them that there are at this mo- speech of the right honourable inent many agents from France, gentleman himself (Mr. Pitt,) who who are doing every thing they had faid, at an early stage of the can to disturb the peace and inter- discusion of that subject, that he nal tranquillity of this country: believed the public rather reagain hemust say, that a committee proached government for fupinefhould be appointed to inquire, in ness, than blamed it for its promporder that the public should know titude in going to war.

This was the deception which had been prac- a mode of beijeaking the opinion tised on them, and that if the war of the public; and he could not had been so commenced, the people help saying it appeared to him, should be enabled to employ the from that and other things, that means of declaring to the throne attenipts were made, and fome of their sentiments upon that subject. them, he was forry to say, successful

After having dilinified the two ones, to inflame the publie mind frit parts of the subject, with his with regard to France. ' He was unal ability, he proceeded to exa- surprised to hear it laid by me mine the question, whether mini- holioarable gentleman in that

Houtes

Iruction here hadi

giren ture, the

sters, fit,

mindi

Em tìm

second T. e publice

dan the fortune. But those who loved free- He next took notice of the effect of

House, that the only consolation and ridicule. In all the accounts that could arise from the death or of pretended insurrections, he murder of the late unfortunate maintained that there was not the Louis was, that it would rouse the least proof of discontent in the indignation and animosity of man- public mind or disaffection to gokind against France.

This was a

vernment ; but that the whole confolation arising from inhuma- arose from other causes. These rity, that he did not envy; he things entitled him to say, that knew there were those who did there was ground for enquiry into sot mourn that unhappy event. the subject; and that an enquiry There were those who did not in- ought to take place to set the bereft themselves to avert that mis- public at rest upon such topics. don, or cherished liberty, must the system of delusion in the meover deplore the transaction, be- tropolis, and the hardships under cause by one act they had armed which many individuals laboured érotism, and given a fatal blow in consequence of that system. He no the general interests of mankind. then observed, on the expression of

Such was his opinion now, and the attorney general, “ that he had of cross fuck it always had been upon that two hundred cases to bring forfubiect.

ward for prosecution, a very few of With regard to the other motive which had been brought forward, " the post of minifters,

namely, that of divert- and they chiefly conlifted of the ing the attention of the public crime of selling Mr. Paine's works.

from the question of parliamentary Mr. Sheridan also reprobated the i indru reform, he believed in his consci- mode adopted by the treasury of pie cience that there was a design of that employing their solicitors, to enepare the nature entertained by ministers in gage various attornies as agents in My Steltis country, which had succeeded the business of discovering

persons refer to for a time; but all this was tem- who distribute seditious books.

porary, for the people were not to This, he observed, was to the last FM,) is be deluded for ever. God forbid degree dangerous, because it went age of the they thould! God forbid that a to the effect of placing in a fituaE, there be brave nation thould be blinded for tion to be tempted, a set of men not zthers long time by a few individuals, highly diftinguithed for fuperior supone and that a whole country thould morality, and of making them desprobe false to itself, and deftitute of rive emolument from the litigation,

ponour, because an individual or which themselves, and not their two had betrayed their character, clients, were to create. The alluWat and because a few persons were ciation of the Crown and Anchor

interested in propagating false Tavern formed by Mr. Reeves, the alarms.

sermon preached by the bithop of Mr. Sheridan next adverted to St, David's, before the House of

the manner in which government Lords, and the conduct of those mind

had proceeded to create the alarm noblemen and gentlemen, who had to which he had alluded, and men- withdrawn their names from the tioned a variety of reports, which Whig Club, formed the remain

rtain 'n ce to be

P

animadversion: and he concluded as on the other. Might not a man, by moving, that the Houle should, from a combination of a variety of on the Nionday following, rcfolve disconnected circumstances, receive ittelf into a committee to contider a convincing impreffion of a geneof the feditious practices, &c. re ral fact, and yet not be able to state ferred to in his majesty's fpeech. any particular proofs of such fact?

This motion was feconded by Woud gentlemen be convinced by Nir. Lambton, and Mr. Windham nothing lets than ocular or tangible rote to oppose it. He said, that evidence of every subject of inthe honourable gentleman had quiry Such reafoners no statetalked of plots and insurrections; ment would fatisfy; and if he but the exitience of plots and insur- fhould say, that there was a difrections had never been the quef- contented ípirit at Norwich, they tion. The question was the fiate might ask what judgment he of the country, which, in his opi- could thence form concerning other nion, was such as would have led parts of the kingdom? But it hapto plots and insurrections. It re- pened, that his conviction arose not lated to feditious practices hitherto from knowledge of lo partial a naunknown, calling loudly for an ture. He had seen tymptoms of a effectual remedy, and amply justify- discontented fpirit, not at Norwich ing every act that had been adopted only, but at various other places, for the prevention of their farther and when people of all descripprogress. The species of infurrec- tions, from all parts of the kingtion stated in the proclamation, dom, seemed to concur in feeling purported to be exaaly what it the same species of alarm, however was: and when gentlemen called false particular rumours might be, for proofs of acts of positive insur- such terror could not be totally unsection, they called for proofs of founded: there could not exist to what had never been atlerted. Of much smoke without fire! One the facts which had been cited, of the charges, he observed, that proofs had not been given, because had been brought forward against they were deemed unnecessary. government on the present occaThe whole country had teemed fion was, that they had for a long with seditious publications ; and time deligned to carry on a war when the state of the country had against Irance; and therefore had been talked of as justifying alarm, created the present alarm, but to was not that fact fufficient? Ano- thai charge no other aniwer apther fact, no less convincing to his peared necellary than a reference to 20 mind, as the foundation of national dates. The alarm had existed in fear, was the afliduity with which November last, and government those feditious publications had did not take measures till December. been circulated. To ask for proofs That aların had called forth the of the existence of those facts were difierent loyal associations, which as absurd as to atk for proofs of the had been so much misrepresented; exitience of general Dumourier: but which bad merited the highest and the minds of men might be as praise, and none more to than that much perplexed by questions from of the Crown and Anchor; an afa fubule inquirer on the one subject fociation that had actually been the

f

in means of saving this country. It thought that the ground for alarm

had been taid, by the agents of was greater ; just as he should C, The Paine, that the principles which have more reason to fear an hostile

wald produce a revolution in this army on being told that it was well Det hamnatry, were operating with the disciplined. It was curious that 120Sence and rapidity of thought. gentlemen should require proofs of

This fact, he said, was some time such a fact as that of the opinion mince to be ascertained from the entertained throughout the kingLa general opinions of the people, dom. 10 from the fears of those who dread The fire, Mr. Windham faid, and in the event, and from the fan- was suppressed for a time, but not 12 ruine expectations of those who extinguished. The meatures of lich, wie ribed it. It had been the ruin of government had already produced

the government of France, that good effects. They had checked Ting they did not adopt and carry into the operations of those who wished But it has pratice timely measures of preven- to overturn the constitution; and a archio, and should we not take warn- they had stopped others from going ardaleen ing tam the lamentable example over to their party. These men - Perm feat chat unhappy country? Its pre- had now found it to be their adai do lat governors were people raised vantage to pretend that no danger the price from the lowest to the highest situa- had happened, like housebreakers, Il diretons, and a change in the political who refted on their arms, and arthe te frlem of this country would throw fected ignorance when in danger of in the power into the hands of characters detection from the family whom m, horgolfmilar to thofe in France. The their efforts had awakened, but mich malfacres of the ad of September who resolved, as soon as fufpicion

helyet rere said to have been produced by should be laid atleep, to renew their Cot eveta mere handful of men. If that atrocities, Mr. Windham mentre! were true, if so small a number tioned the obftinate incredulity of ned, could accomplish fo extenfive a those who perfiited to think that ard are mischief in Paris, guarded by arm- the alarm throughout the countiy dere cele troops, could such a city as was created by administration as a for a la London escape the blow? Mr. pretext for their fubfequent conC. Windham then stated a report duct. He re-asserted that the evirefor 'vich he had heard, of clubs hav. dence of public danger was to him mu, bet ir been formed, to which those indubitable; and as the majority Ewwere admitted received money of that House had sanctioned such desence

of their attendance, and were told an opinion, he fhould vote against exiked's a their fèrvices would be wanted the present notion. brerimento some future occafion. Such a The lord Mayor, (fir James SaunDecember report might poslībly be untrue, derson) role to state some facts tuth te but he had certainly heard it, and which came to his knowledge in es szake had heard it from people not his official capacity. He then refered connected with each other. When gave an accurate history of several e bigud it was aflerted that fuch clubs met political associations in the city of chan itt taly for the purpose of parlianien- London, and of his conduct con; and tuy reform, and conducted them- cerning them. These focieties, he been te kives in an orderly manner, he said, adopted in the wideft extreme 3

the

the principles of Thomas Paine, be convinced, and would readily and inculcated, under the pretext alter their opinion, if they saw any of a reform in Parliament, thote reasonable evidence to induce themi principles which tended to fubrert fo to do. As to what had been our happy constitution. French faid,' that no pretext had been held opinions were recommended uni- forth by ministers to justify the pro- I. formly and artfully at all these va- clamations for calling out the mirious clubs, and diffeminated, with litia, and for the meeting of parlithe utmost industry, into all the ament, but that they had fairly and corners of the kingdom, and under diftin&tly stated the fact; he must the French proceedings; allem- beg leave to observe, that a trae bling themselves under the style of faët may frequently be used as a citizen and equal-no king--no no- false pretext; and here, by the how bles-no clergy, were the subjects nourable gentleman's own account of their discuilions, and the only of the matter, the insurrections faremedy pointed out by the leaders, tisfied at moft but the letter of the was the desperateextremity of cre- law; while a cause totally different ating a new organ, namely, a con- and unconnected, either with these vention of Englishmen; it being insurrections or with the purview roundly ailerted, that parliament of the act of parliament, was reitself was too corrupt to admit of curred to in order to satisfy the any other resource. The chief ma- spirit of the act. gistrate alto mentioned another very, Mr. Fox now adverted to the

that numerous fociety, which had been' proceedings of the Crown and Answers expelled from the King's Arms ta- choraflociation, and remarked with : 8 be vern in Cornhill. He said, that on great severity on receiving and conthe evening preceding their expul- lidering anonymous information fion, the chairman publicly de- He then atked, if it could be con clared, without any material op- fidered as a justifiable expedient of pofition, that he held republican administration, to tell the publio principles, and, after ftating to the that treasons and conspirancies exe** company, details of riots in vari- isted, and neither to prosecute nord in b; ous places, and particularly an at- endeavour to discover the conspi« at the tempt to plant the tree of liberty rators and traitors. He knew that *

si confit in Dundee, he added, " that he la- it had been confidently afferted," string mented that we were not so for- among other things, that letters had to tard." His lordship concluded by been written by him and his friends afe27 submitting his conduct to the judg- to persons in France, of a dangered? ment of the House, and declaring ous tendency, and that it was owe med that he should vote against the ino- ing entirely to the lenity of minition.

ters, that they were not produced. *ack, Mr. Fox, after treating certain If ministers were in poffeffion of rest

, reports, such as that of a confpi- any such letters, he challenged to come racy formed to seize the Tower of them to the proof. But he should tager London, as he thought they de- be told it was an aukward thing to bar served, declared, that neither he produce letters opened at the Post bir nor.his friends were obstinate infi- Office. To that he should answer, can dels, but that they only defired to the aukwardness was in opening te

them