that the same be inserted in the Courier and County Herald. An ADDRESS of the Inhabitants of the Town, assembled on the same day and place. "To G. L. WARDLE, Esq. M. P. "SIR; We consider that no foreign conquest or efforts of genius are so essential to the Country as the honest exertions of Independent Members of Parliament, to expose, and endeavour to exterminate, corrupt practices. "We revere our King and Constitution, and complain of no sacrifices that we are called upon for their security and support; but when such transactions as have lately been exposed are suffered to exist without notice, how truly thankful must every true and loyal Briton be that such an independent Member as yourself stands forward as Champion in the cause of Truth. "We most unfeignedly give you our cordial and grateful thanks, and most sincerely wish that you may for many years enjoy the heart-felt satisfaction of being instrumental to the happiness of your own Countrymen.-J. MARTYR, Mayor." COUNTY OF NORFOLK. At a most numerous and respectable Meeting of the Freeholders of the County of Norfolk, held at the Shire-house, on Tuesday, the 2d of May, 1809, the following Resolutions were moved by the hen. George Herbert (who was called to the Chair in the absence of the High Sheriff,) seconded by Thomas Beevor, esq. and adopted without one dissentient voice: Resolved, 1. That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to G. L. Wardle, esq. for the indefatigable zeal and disinterested patriotism he has evinced in detecting and bringing to light the gross and unparalleled Corruption which has long existed in the office of the Commander in Chief; and for the firm and temperate perseverance with which (in defiance of threats and difficulties) he carried on the late Investigation in Parliament, to his own honour, and the advantage of his Country. 2. That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to all those who cordially assisted Mr. Wardle in the arduous task he had undertaken, shewing themselves at once the Friends of the People and the Enemies of Corruption-especially to sir F. Burdett, lord Folkestone, S. Whitbread, esq. sir S. Romilly, sir T. Turton, J. C. Curwen, esq. C. W. Wynne, esq. major-general Fergusson, and adm. Markham. 3. That the Thanks of this Meeting are in an especial manner due to our worthy Representative, T. W. Coke, esq. who divided with the patriotic minority of 125, in favour of Mr. Wardle's Motion; and for the firm and manly manner in which he delivered his own sentiments, and those of the People in general; thereby proving himself worthy of the confidence that has been so long reposed in him by the Freeholders of this County. 4. That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to our other Representative, sir J. H. Astley, bart. for his vote in favour of sir T. Turton's amendment. 5. That it is the earnest hope of this Meeting, that the truly patriotic example of Mr. Wardle may stimulate others to exert themselves in their duty to their Constituents, by eradicating Corruption from every branch of the Government and Legislature. 6. That the Majority in the late divisions in Parliament, acquitting the Commander in Chief of all personal Corruption, and of all Connivance at Corruption, was in direct opposition to the sense of the People; and that the necessity is thereby evinced of adopting some effectual Reform, in order that the voice of the Representatives may become the voice of the People. 7. That it is the decided opinion of this Meeting, that no substantial and permanent good can be derived by the Country from any change of Ministers, unless accompanied by an entire change of system; and that the most certain method of rendering Parliamentary Reform effectual is, to follow the laudable example of Westminster, by returning, free of expence, such representatives as are worthy of confidence; and by shortening the duration of Parliaments, in order that a frequent appeal to the sense of the People may guide the conduct of our Representatives, without increasing their expences. 8. That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to the gentlemen who signed the Requisition. 9. That those Resolutions be inserted in the Norwich Papers, the Ipswich and Bury Papers, and the London Papers. The following Resolutions were also moved by John Kerrich, esq. seconded by the hon. George Herbert, and adopted with equal unanimity: 10. That a Subscription be entered into by the Freeholders of the County of Norfolk, to purchase a Piece of Plate, which shall be presented to Mr. Wardle in their Names. COUNTY OF HERTFORD. 11. That the Gentlemen who signed | service to the Interests and Welfare of the the Requisition to the High Sheriff for this Country. Meeting be requested to act as a Committee for the application of the Funds arising from the Subscriptions, and that they be authorised to present the Plate to Mr. Wardle, in any way, and with any inscription they may deem explanatory of the intention of the donors. 12. That the Subscription do finally close in the coming Summer Assize Week, and the purposes for which it was entered into be then proceeded upon by the Committee with all convenient dispatch. 13. That the Bankers in Norfolk and Suffolk, and Messrs. Barclays, Tritton and Bevan, Lombard-street, be requested to receive any subscription, not exceeding Two Guineas. BOROUGH OF BOSTON. At a Meeting of the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders of the County of Hertford, held at the Shire Hall, at Hertford, in the same county, on the 13th of May, 1809, convened by the High Sheriff, in consequence of a Requisition addressed to him for the purpose of expressing their sense of the conduct of their representatives in Parliament with respect to the Charges against his Royal Highness the late Commander in Chief, and their sentiments upon the corrupt practices which have been brought to light by the evidence which has been given in the House of Commons upon the investigation of those Charges, The High Sheriff in the Chair: Resolved, That the Parliamentary In Commander in Chief, and the result of other Parliamentary Inquiries, have fully satisfied this Meeting of the existence of great abuses in several departments of the Executive Government of the country. At a numerous and respectable Meet-vestigation into the Conduct of the late ing of the Inhabitants of this Borough, convened by advertisement, at the White Hart Inn, this day, May 9, 1809, for the purpose of considering of the propriety of voting an Address of Thanks to G. L. Wardle, esq. for his recent conduct in Parliament, Abraham Sheath, esq. in the Chair: The following Resolutions were carried with only one dissenting voice: Resolved, 1. That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to G. L. Wardle, esq. for his manly and independent Conduct in Parliament during the recent Investigation of the Charges brought against the Commander in Chief, and thereby exposing various Abuses in the Military Department in the State. 2. That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to the Patriotic Minority of 125, who supported Colonel Wardle, in his arduous undertaking in the House of Commons, shewing themselves at once the Friends of the People, and the Enemies of Corruption. That G. L. Wardle, esq. by his unexampled intrepidity, integrity, and ability in originating and persevering in that inquiry, unsupported by party interests, and opposed by power, has faithfully discharged his duty as an honest Member of Parliament, rendered an important service to his country, and merited the warmest thanks and approbation of this Meeting. That the hon. Thomas Brand and sir John Saunders Sebright, bart. the Representatives in Parliament for this county, by the disposition they have manifested to inquire into and check abuses and corruption, by the support they uniformly gave to the appointment of an efficient Finance Committee, and particularly by the active support they gave to Mr. Wardle's motion, and to the rendering effec 3. That the Thanks of this Meeting are tive the Inquiry, have, in a high degree, due to W. A. Madocks, esq. one of the Re- merited the approbation and confidence presentatives of this Borough, and to the of their constituents, and that it is the hon. C. A. Pelham, one of the Represen-earnest hope of this Meeting that they tatives of this County, for their Votes on this important Question. 4. That it is the opinion of this Meeting, that it will be highly expedient that the strictest inquiries into the several Departments of the State be still farther prosecuted by the House of Commons, being fully convinced that no change of Ministers, unless accompanied by an entire change of system, can be of essential will persevere in inquiring into every abuse till the public confidence in the administration of national affairs is fully restored. That the Thanks of this Meeting be gi ven to sir F. Burdett, bart. who seconded Mr. Wardle's motion; to lord Folkestone, and S. Whitbread, esq., who unremittingly promoted the Inquiry, and to lord John Townshend, Joseph Halsey, esq. and Sa, representative, who signed the Requisition and brought forward the Resolutions, as the steady friend of Reform and enemy of Corruption, and for his patriotic and disin muel Smith, esq. Members residing in this county, and to sir S. Romilly, gen. Ferguson, adm. Markham, J. C. Curwen, esq. lord visc. Althorpe, C. W. Wynne, T. W. Coke, esq. and the rest of the 125 Mem-terested conduct on all occasions in sup bers who divided in favour of Mr. Wardle's motion for an Address to his Majesty. That the Thanks of this Meeting be also given to Nicholson Calvert, esq. Daniel Giles, esq. and to the honourable William Lamb, Members, residing in this county, and to all those other Members of the House of Commons who composed the numerous respectable, and eventually successful, Minorities. Resolved unanimously, That the increasing influence of the Crown is an evil progressively undermining the constitutional rights of the people, and that the late prodigious and rapid increase of our national debt, with that of our military and colonial establishment, have created an influence, the force of which, acting upon a great body of Electors, has driven the liberties of this country from the firm basis of popular representation, to a dependance upon the moderation and forbearance of the Crown. Resolved unanimously, That, although it is the duty of the great Officers of the Crown to bring to light delinquency and abuses in office, yet we have seen with extreme regret the Members of Administration exerting their influence to screen delinquency, and prevent the discovery of mal-practices in several recent instances, and while we earnestly deprecate all unconstitutional attempts at reformation out of the House of Commons, we think it necessary to express our earnest hope that the independent and patriotic Members of that honourable House will exert themselves in obtaining that Reform, as also in discovering and prosecuting all corrupt abuses in every department of the State, and in applying such constitutional checks as may secure the people against a recurrence of the same. Resolved unanimously, That this Meeting has perceived with regret that the Majorities of the House of Commons upon this and some other recent occasions, have differed essentially from the sense of the people, thereby affording them a convincing proof that a Reform in the Representation of the People is indispensibly necessary to the expression of the public sentiments. Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to William Plu port of the independence of this County, and the general rights and liberties of the people. OFFICIAL PAPERS. SPANISH REVOLUTION.-Decree of the Supreme Junta, dated Feb. 7, 1809, (conc!uded from p. 576.) -that acts of the most atrocious kind, and which make human nature shudder, are daily heard of, such as the death of a nun, who threw herself into a well, to avoid the brutality of a Frenchman; the cruel murder of a mother, whose breasts were cut off in the act of giving suck to her son, by those monsters, who afterwards sabred her infant; and a number of other cases equally horrible; atrocities painful to write, dreadful to read, and degrading to endure; finally, his Majesty being convinced, that still to observe the laws of natural equity with those who respect no law whatever, would not be moderation and justice, but the most culpable indifference and the basest meanness, has resolved to repress and punish those crimes. Calling therefore all Europe to witness the awful necessity which has compelled him to resort to the means of retaliation, by returning on a sanguinary banditti violence for violence, he hereby decrees: 1. That no quarter shall be given to any French soldier, Officer or General, who may be made prisoner in any town or district, in which acts contrary to the laws of war have been committed by the enemy, but that such persons shall be immediately put to the sword, as an example to their companions and a satisfaction to outraged humanity. 2. That the present Decree shall be printed, proclaimed, and distributed in the Spanish armies, in order to its due execution. You are also required to make arrangements for the fulfilment of the same. T -The Marquis of ASTORGA, Vice President.-MARTIN DE GARAY. Done in the Royal Al-cazan of Seville, Feb. 7, 1809. mer, esq. our late worthy and independent of the present Treaty all acts of hostility honours enjoyed by other nations at the Sublime Porte; and reciprocally the Ambassadors of the Sublime Porte to the Court of London shall fully enjoy all the honours which shall be granted to the Ambassadors of Great Britain. shall cease, between England and Turkey, | King of Great Britain shall fully enjoy the and the prisoners on both sides, in consequence of this happy peace, shall be at liberty in thirty-one days after the signature of this Treaty, or sooner if possible. 2. If there should be any places belonging to the Sublime Porte, in possession of Great Britain, they are to be restored, and given up to the Sublime Porte, with all their cannon, ammunition, and other effects, in the same condition in which they were found when occupied by the English; and this restitution must take place within thirty-one days after the signature of the present Treaty. 3. If there shall be effects or property appertaining to English merchants, or sequestrated under the jurisdiction of the Sublime Porte, that shall be all returned and restored to the proprietors-and in like manner, if there shall be effects, property, or vessels, appertaining to the merchants and subjects of the Sublime Porte, under sequestration at Malta, or in the other Isles and States of his Britannic Majesty, they shall in like manner be entirely returned and restored to the proprietors. 4. The articles of the Treaty stipulated m the Turkish year 1086, in the moon Djemaz ul Akber, as also the article relative to the commerce of the Black Sea, and the other privileges (midjiazals) equally established by the acts of subsequent periods, shall be observed and maintained as heretofore, and as if they had not suffered any interruption. 8. It shall be permitted to name Schabinders (Consuls) at Malta, and in the States of his Britannic Majesty, wherever it may be necessary to inspect the affairs and interests of the Turkish merchants, and the same treatment and privileges which are allowed to English Consuls residing in the Ottoman States, shall be rigidly observed towards the Schabinders of the Sublime Porte. 9. The English Consuls and Ambassadors shall, according to custom, employ such drogmans as they may have occasion for; but as it has been before decreed by common consent, the Sublime Porte will not grant the berat of drogman in favour of individuals who do not exercise that function in the place of their destination. It is agreed, conformably to this principle, that henceforward the berat shall not be granted to any person of the rank of tradesman or banker, nor to any one who shall keep a shop or manufactory in the public market, or who shall be concerned in affairs of this kind; and he shall not be appointed by the English Consuls from among the subjects of the Sublime Porte. 10. The English patent of protection 5. In consequence of the good treat- shall not be granted to any person from -ment and favour granted by the Sublime among the dependents or merchants, subPorte to the English merchants with res-jects of the Sublime Porte, nor shall there pect to their merchandize and property, be delivered to them any passport from and every thing of which they may stand the Ambassadors or Consuls, without the in need and, in like manner, with re- permission of the Sublime Porte. gard to all objects tending to facilitate 11. As it has been at all times forbidthe commerce, England shall reciprocally den for ships of war to enter the canals of grant entire favour and an amicable treat- Constantinople, viz. in the Strait of the ment to the flags, subjects, and mer- Dardanelles, or that of the Black Sea, and chants of the Sublime Porte-who shall as that antient rule of the Ottoman Emhereafter frequent the States of his Bri-pire must be henceforward observed in tannic Majesty. time of peace by all Powers whatever, the British Court promise to conform to this principle. 6. The tariff of the customs, which was latterly fixed at Constantinople, at the old rate of three per cent. and especially the article which respects internal commerce, shall be constantly observed as they have been regulated. To this England pro mises to conform. 7. The Ambassador of his Majesty the 12. The Ratification of this present Treaty of Peace, between the High Contracting Powers, shall be exchanged at Constantinople in the space of ninety-one days from the date of the present Treaty, or sooner if possible. LONDON :-Printed by T. C. HANSARD, Peterborough - Court, Fleet - Street; Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden :-Sold also by J. BUDD, Pall-Malk VOL. XV. No. 21] LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1809. [Price is. "A MODERATE and temporate Reform in the Abuses of the Constitution is due to the people, who "being on their part just to the monarchical and aristocratical branches of the Constitution, who commit no "invasion of the rights, and seek no abridgements of the powers of either, are entitled to have their own "share in the legislation of their country, freed from the unjust usurpations of others, and to possess un"invaded, and to exercise uncontrouled by the other branches of the government, those rights which "this happy Constitution, in the matchless (xcellence of its principles, has solely and exclusively allotted "to the people. A Reform of such a character may lessen the means, and dimmish the opportunities "of corrupting legislation, both in its source and in its progress; it may reduce the influence by which unconstitutional ministers preserve their power, but it will save the nation from their profusion, and perpetuate that Constitution which all equally profess to venerate: Such a Reform I believe cannot, "with p rfect safety, be long delayed; the more really and cheerfully those rights which belong only to the people are restored by those who at present, in too many instances, possess and exercise them, "the more firm and established will be the present happy form of our government, the more safe from “risque and danger will be the just prerogatives of the crown, and the peculiar acknowledged hereditary "privileges of this House." LORD LAUDERDALE'S Frotest, in the House of Lords, 31 May 1792. 801] TO THE INDEPENDENT PEOPLE OF HAMPSHIRE. LETTER III. PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. Whether the present state of the Representation be consonant with the principles of that Constitution, which has so long been the boast of Englishmen? GENTLEMEN; -[602 "firm conviction of this Meeting, that a "Reform in the representation of the people "in the Com.nens House of Parliament, "Is the only effectual corrective of existing abuses; and that the only security against future corruptions, will be the restoring to the people that share of the elective franchise which the pub"lic good requires, and to which they are "entitled by the principles of the Bri It is I. BEFORE I proceed to the discussion"tish Constitution."It is but just to of this question, sulfer me, for one mo- the County of Cornwall, as well as to the ment, to advert to an assertion, which has cause of Reform, to state, which I do been made by more than one member of upon certain information, that Lord Eliot, the House of Commons; namely, that the Lord de Danstanville, Mr. F. Gregor, country does not wish for a Reform of Par- Mr. F. G. Glanville, Mr. William Rashliament. Precisely what these gentle-leigh, Mr. Charles Rashleigh, and several men may mean, when they say "the other of those, who are well known to "country," neither you nor I can posi- have a deep interest in the numerous tively tell; but, I think, it would be ex-boroughs in that County, were present at tremely difficult for any man to devise a the Meeting, and that, notwithstanding method, by which to draw from a country, their opposition, the Resolutions were carcontaining so my people as this, any tied by a majority of fifty to one. thing better intitled to the appellation of also worthy of notice, that the Resolutions" the general wish, than that expression of a were brought forward by Mr. Colman wish for Reform, which has now been ut- Rashleigh, a near relation of two of the tered in this Kingdom. It is notorious, above named gentlemen, who are well that there is scarcely any portion of the known to have the largest share in the people, who may be deemed at liberty to management of the Cornish boroughs. It express their opinions, who have not de- is further proper to state, that Lord de cidedly declared for Reform. Even in Dunstanville and Mr. Gregor, who took an Cornwall, where, if any where, the cause active part in the debate, said, that they of Reform might reasonably be expected had no objection to a vote of thanks to Mr. to meet with few friends, a County Meet- Wardle; though it will be recollected, that ing, held at Bodmin on the 15th instant, the king's ministers, in the House of Comresolved, That the corruptions which mons, declared their resolution to oppose "have been suffered to accumulate to so a vete of thanks to that gentleman, if it "grievous an extent in this country, are to were brought forward. A similar declarabe traced to the defective state of the tion was, you will recollect, made by all "representation; that it is, therefore, the our opponents at Winchester, which it is |