Page images
PDF
EPUB

4. Resolved unanimously,-That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to the 125 Independent Members, who decided in favour of Mr. Wardle's Motion for an Address to the King on the subject of the late Inquiry.

5. Resolved (with only six dissentients),That it is the opinion of this Meeting, that the gross and scandalous Abuses that have recently been exposed and detected, call loudly for Constitutional Redress and Correction as the only means left to convince the People, that the heavy Sacrifices they are called upon to make are not perverted to base and improper purposes.

6. Resolved unanimously,-That the Proceedings of this Meeting be signed by the Chairman, and that copies thereof be sent to G. L. Wardle, esq.; sir Francis Burdett, bart.; and lord visc. Althorp; and that the same be published in the Northampton Mercury, the County Press, the Morning Chronicle, the Courier, and the Star newspapers.

BOROUGH OF DERBY.

At a General Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Borough of Derby, at the Town Hall, on the 18th April, convened by the Mayor, pursuant to a Requisition, "to consider the propriety of returning "Thanks to Gwyllim Lloyd Wardie, esq., "for having instituted and prosecuted "the late Inquiry into the Conduct of his "Royal Highness the Duke of York," H. BROWNE, esq., Mayor, in the Chair, The following Resolutions were almost unanimously adopted, viz.

That this Meeting, actuated by the purest motives, is desirous of expressing to G. L. Wardle, esq., its grateful Thanks for the firm and independent manner in which, unconnected with party, he instituted, and the temper and perseverance which he displayed, in the prosecution of the late arduous Inquiry into the Conduct of his Royal Highness the Duke of York. That this Meeting, believing that gross abuses and shameful corruption have been fully proved to exist in various departments of the State, and in the general administration of public affairs, is thoroughly convinced of the necessity of timely and temperate, but strict and effectual inquiry and correction.

That after the distinguished proof which has been given by Mr. Wardle, of what under the forms of our excellent Constitution may be accomplished by the honest exertions of an individual Member of the

House of Commons, this Meeting trusts that the fatal consequences to which such corruption and abuse must inevitably lead, will be averted by the united efforts of all good men, and of such Representatives of the People in particular, as with abilities equal to the task,- shall have the courage, probity, and independence, to step forwards on an occasion so pregnant with honour to themselves and safety to their country.

That a Copy of these Resolutions be signed by the Chairman, and transmitted by him to G. L. Wardle, esq.

BOROUGH OF LEWES.

At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the said Borough, holden at the Town Hall, in Lewes, on Tuesday the 18th day of April, 1809, in conformity to a Requisition signed by a great number of the Inhabitants,-Mr. HENRY PAWSON, Senior Constable, in the Chair,

Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to G. L. Wardle, esq., for his patriotic and firm conduct in preferring and prosecuting certain Charges of corrupt practices against his Royal Highness the Duke of York, in his Office of Commander in Chief.

Resolved unanimously, That in the opinion of this Meeting the evidence adduced before the House of Commons, fully proved abuses to have existed with the knowledge of his Royal Highness, to the great detriment of the Army, and which must, if persevered in, have been ultimately injurious to the best and dearest interests of the nation at large.

Resolved, That this Meeting feels great mortification that the House of Commons (notwithstanding the Resignation of his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief), did not place upon their Journals some Resolution that should have recorded their sense of his misconduct, and which might have been handed down to posterity as a valuable lesson of reproof; and that this Meeting cannot fail to observe, that the conduct of the Majority of the House of Commons during the whole of the late proceedings, has but added one more to the many instances that might be adduced, in which similar Majorities appear to have acted under an influence directly opposed to the feelings and opinions of the People.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Meeting, that the Representatives who cease to feel a common interest with the people on the subject of abuses, can afford no security to the people against the increase of those abuses; and that therefore

[ocr errors]

the only effectual remedy which can be, applied to so great and alarming an evil, is such a Reform in the Election of Representatives as will enable them sufficiently to speak the sentiments of the people.

Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to Thomas Kemp and Henry Shelley, esquires, the Independent Representatives of this Independent Borough, for their steady and uniform conduct in voting in the Minority upon each motion, that tended to censure his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief. Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Meeting be also given to sir F. Burdett, bart., the Seconder; to lord Folkestone, Mr. Whitbread, sir S. Romilly, adm. Markham, gen. Ferguson, Mr. H. Martin, Mr. Coke, and Mr. C. W. Wynne, who so ably supported it; to those Members who represent places in this county, and the rest of the 125 Representatives who formed the Independent Minority on the important question produced by Mr. Wardle's motion.

Resolved unanimously, That the Constables be requested to transmit a copy of these Resolutions to G. L. Wardle, Thos. Kemp, and Henry Shelley, esquires.

BOROUGH OF READING.

At a very numerous and respectable Meeting of the Inhabitants of this Borough, convened by the Worshipful THOMAS GLEED, esq., Mayor of the said Borough, in pursuance of a Requisition to consider of the corrupt practices lately proved in the House of Commons, and holden in the Town-hall the 19th instant, the twelve following Resolutions having been moved by J. B. Monck, esq., and seconded by H. Marsh, esq., were carried as follows:

1st, Resolved unanimously, That corrupt practices have been found to exist in the grant of Commissions and Appointments in the Army, no less disgraceful to the character of the late Commander in Chief as a Soldier, than ruinous to the Public Service.

deserved well of his Constituents, and conferred honour on their choice, by the plain, intelligible, independent, consistent, decisive manner in which he acted and voted during the whole course of the late Inquiry.

4th, Unanimously, That our Thanks are due to sir F. Burdett, bart., who seconded Mr. Wardle; lord visc. Folkestone; sir S. Romilly, knt.; S. Whitbread, esq.; adm. Markham; the gallant gen. Ferguson, and the remainder of the 125 Members who supported Mr. Wardle's Motion.

5th, (With only three Dissentients), That the Vote of the House of Commons upon the Motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the Acquittal of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, from all knowledge of the corrupt practices proved, hath done violence both to the understanding and feelings of Englishmen, and affords a prominent and striking example of the very imperfect Representation of the People.

6th, Unanimously, That the only effectual barrier against the inroads of Corruption is to be found in the constitutional resort to obtain a fair and faithful Representation of the People in their House of Commons.

7th, (With only one Dissentient), That the number of Placemen and Pensioners having seats in the House of Commons is a growing evil, contrary to an antient Resolution of that House, destructive of the Independence of Parliament, and that the number ought to be restricted to certain Officers of State, whose presence may expedient in the House of Commons.

be

8th, Unanimously, That the state of the decayed Boroughs in the United Kingdom, returning Members to Parliament, and which have become by lapse of time the private property of individuals, is one great cause of the present wide extending deplorable Corruption, and demands the serious attention of Parliament, as a mockery of Representation.

9th, (With only three Dissentients), That the restoration of triennial Parlia ments agreeable to the Statute 6th William and Mary, would greatly check Corruption, and in the words of the Preamble to that memorable Act, would "tend very "much to the happy union and good agreement of the King and People."

2ndly, Unanimously, That G. L. Wardle, esq., is entitled to the Thanks of his Country, for the zeal, integrity and intrepidity, with which he maintained the Charges of Corruption brought against his Royal Highness the Duke of York, in spite of the luke-warmness of the leading Members of Opposition, and the open hostility" and direct menaces of Ministers.

3rdly, (With only one Dissentient), That Charles Shaw Lefevre, esq., one of the Representatives for this Borough, has

10th, Unanimously, That the only way to have independent men in Parliament, is to send them independent there, and that the example set by Westminster

in the manner of electing sir F. Burdett, dity in preferring charges of corruption cannot be too highly commended, and is against his Royal Highness the late Comworthy to be imitated by all the free Bo-mander-in-Chief, and by his ability and roughs throughout the Kingdom.

11th, (With only three Dissentients), That during the present reign every successive Administration has yielded either to the force or to the temptation of the present system of Corruption, and the result of every change has been to hold the People in delusion, and not to remove, but perpetuate Abuses.

perseverance in establishing the same, is eminently entitled to the Thanks of this Meeting, and to the everlasting gratitude of his country.

That the Thanks of this Meeting are also due to lord visc. Mahon and John Staniforth, esq. our Representatives in Parliament, to Tho. Thompson, esq. our fellow townsman, and to lord visc. Milton, 12th, (With only five Dissentients), and William Wilberforce, esq. the RepreThat we have no hopes that his Majesty's sentatives for the County of York, toge present Ministers will ever seriously and ther with the rest of the Independent Miearnestly take in hand the work of Re-nority, for their votes and exertions on formation, as the late proceedings in Par- this occasion. liament have fully proved them to be the Ministers of the Crown only, and not of the People-the Stiflers of Inquiry and the Abettors of Corruption.

A Resolution being then put by the Rev. Dr. Valpy, and seconded by Rob. Harris, esq.; that the vote of John Simeon, esq.; one of the Representatives of this Borough, in favour of Mr. Bankes's Motion, is highly deserving of the thanks of his Constituents -was négatived by a great Majority.

A Resolution was then proposed by the rev. Dr. Valpy, and seconded by Thomas Ring, esq., "That in order to set the example of Purity of Representation, it is unfit for any Elector of this Borough to accept a Public Dinner or any other Gratuity, directly or indirectly, from his Representatives," which was carried without opposition.

That this Meeting, seeing the shameful venality that prevails in the different departments of the State, and also as has been recently evinced, in the disposal of East India patronage, feels it a duty to state their conviction of the necessity of a complete Change of public measures, of the Abolition of Reversionary Grants and unmerited Pensions and Sinecure Places, and of the Restoration of the Purity of Parliament, according to the genuine principles of the Constitution.

That the Chairman be requested to sign these Resolutions as the act of this Meeting, and to transmit copies thereof to Mr. Wardle, lord Mahon, Mr. Staniforth, Mr. Thompson, lord Milton, and Mr. Wilberforce."

BOROUGH OF STAFFORD.

At a General Meeting of the Inhabitants of this Borough, convened by public advertisement, April 20th, the following Address was unanimously voted to G. L. Wardle, esq.

TOWN OF KINGSTON-UPON HULL. At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town and Neighbourhood of Kingstonupon Hull, held at the Guild-hall there on Wednesday, the 19th instant, for the pur- To G. L. Wardle, esq.--We the Inhapose of expressing their public Opinion of bitants of the Borough of Stafford, have the Transactions which have recently pass-witnessed with sentiments of admiration ed in the House of Commons, and to consider of a Vote of Thanks to Mr. Wardle, (along with the other Members who supported him) for the manly intrepidity and perseverance displayed by him in instituting and prosecuting his charges against the conduct of the Ex-Commander in Chief. Andrew Hollingworth, esq. Mayor, in the chair.

Resolved unanimously,

That it is the duty of this Meeting to express their detestation of the corrupt practices proved to exist in the Military Administration of the country, and in various other departments of Government.

That G. L. Wardle, esq. by his intrepi

and gratitude, the firm but temperate manner, in which you have prosecuted a long and laborious inquiry into the con duct of the late Commander in Chief.The victory which you have obtained over the abuses disclosed in that high official situation, is a noble instance of the self-renovating power of our glorious constitu tion. You have shewn, that any virtuous and independent Member of the House of Commons, unconnected with party, but supported by the public voice, is enabled to promote the cause of truth and the real interests of the nation.-Estimating your services therefore as the efforts of an honest and courageous mind, we offer to you

our ardent thanks, as a part of that community which you have so eminently benefited.

Resolved, that a copy of this Address, signed by the Chairman, be transmitted by him to G. L. Wardle, esq.

TOWN AND COUNTY OF POOLE.
At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the
Town and County of Poole, pursuant to
Public Notice, held at the Town Hall, on
Friday, the 21st of April, 1809, Thomas
Parr, in the Chair.

Resolved, That the exposure of many transactions in the several Departments of the State, and the conduct of many persons connected therewith, are so many melancholy proofs that the Constitution of the Country has been endangered by gross and scandalous corruption.

in the Chair, The following Resolutions were entered into:

1. Resolved unanimously, That the late Inquiry by the House of Commons into the Conduct of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, as Commander-in-Chief, has exposed the most flagrant abuses in the Administration of Public Affairs, which tend to stain the honour of the British character and endanger the security of the Empire.

2. Unanimously, That impressed with a deep sense of the service he has rendered his country, the Thanks of this Meeting be given to G. L. Wardle, esq. for that diligent perseverance and temperate, but manly spirit, with which, undismayed by the menaces of power, or unsupported by the intrigues of party, he has brought into public view a system of corruption, equally dangerous to the Liberties of the People, and the Safety of the Crown.

3. Unanimously, That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to sir F. Burdett, bart. for having seconded Mr. Wardle's Motion.

That it is the indispensible duty of every Member of the House of Commons, to guard with a watchful eye the expenditure of the public money; and as the faithful guardian of the People's rights, to 4. Unanimously, That the Thanks of exert every endeavour to detect, and this Meeting be presented to Geo. Longbring to condign punishment, the Agents man, esq. our worthy Representative, for of Corruption in every Department of the the faithful discharge of his public trust, State. in opposing abuse and corruption by diThat it is to the true patriotism and un-viding in favour of Mr. Wardle's Motion. daunted zeal of G. L. Wardle, esq. that the Country is indebted for the exposure of many flagrant abuses in the Military Department; and to his unexampled courage and perseverance, (assisted by the virtuous and independent Members of the House of Commons) we look with confidence to the completion of the great work of Refor mation. Deeply impressed with these sentiments, we cannot but consider G. L. Wardle, esq. intitled not only to our warmest Thanks, but also to the gratitude of his country.

That the Thanks of this Meeting be conveyed to G. L. Wardle, esq. accordingly.

That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to B. Lester Lester, esq. the worthy Representative of this Town and County; to the Member for the County of Dorset, and to all other the Members of the House of Commons who voted in the different Minorities on the late important questions.

TOWN OF MAIDSTONE.

At a Meeting of the inhabitants of this Town, held at the Court Hall, pursuant to public notice, April 21, James Smyth, esq.

5. Unanimously, That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to lord Folkestone, W. Honywood, esq. S. Whitbread, esq. sir S. Romilly, knt. gen. Ferguson, J. Calcraft, esq. J. Jackson, esq. and the rest of the 125 Honest Members, who voted for Mr. Wardle's Motion.

6. Unanimously, That the decision of the Majority of the House of Commons on the Abuses brought to light in the course of the late Inquiry, is a subject of deep regret and concern to the People of England, and must impress conviction on the mind of every Friend to his King and Country that a radical Reform in the Representation of the People presents the only effectual means of putting a stop to those corrupt practices which undermine and threaten to destroy our envied Constitution.

7. With three dissentient voices, That this Hall is gratified to hear that the respectable names of sir Wm. Geary, bart. T. Law Hodges, esq. and T. Rider, esq. are given to a Meeting, called for the express purpose of digesting a plan of a Reform in Parliament, and we trust that their efforts will conduce to the satisfaction of the People, and the welfare of the Country.

BOROUGH OF PLYMOUTH. At a very numerous and respectable Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Borough of Plymouth, convened at the Guildhall thereof this 24th day of April, 1809, by public Advertisement, by the Worshipful the Mayor, to consider the propriety of a Vote of Thanks to Mr. Wardle, for his exemplary and judicious arrangements, in a recent Investigation before Parliament respecting the Conduct of the late Commander in Chief of the Army.-The Worshipful the Mayor in the Chair.

Resolved, That circumstances of public notoriety place beyond all doubt the long existence of nefarious and scandalous Abuses in various Branches of the Government of the Country, and that minute Investigation is absolutely necessary into several Public Departments,

Resolved, That G. L. Wardle, esq. has faithfully discharged the duties of a conscientious Member of Parliament, and is eminently entitled to the approbation and thanks of the Inhabitants of this Town, for the firm and manly manner and distinguished abilities evinced by him on the Inquiry into the Conduct of the late Commander in Chief of the Army; and also that great praise is due to all those who supported him in his arduous and difficult undertaking.

Resolved, That the Inhabitants of this Town regret that a much greater number of independent and unbiassed Members were not to be found in the House of Commons anxious to promote such measures as might tend to annihilate Corruption, which if not corrected must endanger the welfare of our inestimable and happy Con

stitution.

Resolved, That the Mayor be requested to communicate to G. L. Wardle, esq. the Sentiments and Resolutions of this Meeting.

CITY OF COVENTRY.

At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of this City, held at the County Hall, the 25th day of April, 1809, pursuant to notice given by Basil Goode, esq. Mayor, in consequence of a Requisition sent to him, for the purpose of expressing their sentiments upon the late Investigation of the Conduct of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, before the House of Commons; which was

as respectably and numerously attended as any Public Meeting ever witnessed in that Hall.-Samuel Whitwell, esq. in the Chair.

After some preliminary observations, from several Gentlemen, explanatory of the nature and design of the Meeting, the following Resolutions were passed without one dissenting voice:

1. That it is the opinion of this Meeting, that corrupt abuses appear to have existed to an alarming extent, in different departments of the State, and particularly in that of the Army, as clearly substantiated by the evidence produced before the House of Commons, in the Investigation of the Conduct of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, the late Commander in Chief.

2. That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to G. L. Wardle, esq. M. P. for his intrepid and patriotic conduct in bringing forward the Charges before the House of Commons, and for his laudable and persevering exertions, in the face of the most powerful opposition, during the progress of this arduous business.

3. That the Thanks of this Meeting be also given to our worthy Representatives, Peter Moore, esq. and William Mills, esq. for their independent conduct during this important Investigation, and for which they are justly entitled to the additional approbation and confidence of their Constituents.

4. That the Thanks of this Meeting be also given to sir Francis Burdett, bart. M.P. lord visc. Folkestone, M. P. Samuel Whitbread, esq. M. P. sir Samuel Romilly, knt. M. P. major-general Ferguson, M. P. Harvey Christian Combe, esq. M. P. and all the rest of the virtuous and honourable Minorities, who nobly stood forth at this important crisis as the enemies of corruption and the friends of their country, by supporting Mr. Wardle upon this occa

sion.

5. That this Meeting consider the conduct of the present administration, relative to the late Inquiry respecting his Royal Highness the Duke of York, derogatory to their official duty, and renders them altogether undeserving that great trust with which they are invested.

6. That a Committee be appointed to carry these Resolutions into effect, and that it consist of those Gentlemen who signed the Requisition. (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.

« PreviousContinue »