ciently into the dissentions, and contests, and given specimens of the debates, in the national, conventional, and legislative assemblies of France, until all freedom was suppressed by the usurpation of Buonaparte. Our attention is now solicited to the Cortes of Spain. If we were to measure the importance of the speeches in the Hall of the Cortes, and the propriety of introducing them into a general History of Europe, by the extent of their knowledge and views, and their admirable eloquence, we should not hesitate to make way for that introduction, by the suppression of much of what passes in our own Parliament. Nor would the British statesmen and orators be disparaged, if they were to sit as close together, and make as much room as possible for the admission of the Spaniards into the bright political zodiac of freedom: Individual liberty and national independence,

But in annals of Europe, we must be guided in our selections by the consideration of what is most important in its general effects and practical results. Had the speeches in Cato's little senate at Utica been published, there is not a doubt but they would have displayed as much wisdom and eloquence as any recorded by Livy or Sallust; but they would not have excited at the time the same degree of interest. As yet, the deliberations and decisions of the Cortes have not had any actual influence on the affairs of nations. In the present volume, as much space has been allotted,, as could be possibly

* Virg. Georg. lib. 1, ver. 34.

spared, to the convocation, formation, and first proceedings of that august assembly, in which deputies appeared from the Spaniards in all the four quarters of the world. It is our sincere wish and prayer, and there is not wanting reason to hope, that the deliberations of the Spanish may one day rival in importance those of the British senate. It will serve as a focus to collect, retain, and reflect the genial rays of patriotism and public spirit; to consolidate the dispersed elements of public force into one mighty mass, and confirm the stability and promote the prosperity and grandeur of the Spanish nation by an enlightened, uniform, and steady government.

We ought to congratulate our readers on the glory acquired this year by the skill as well as valour displayed by our arms in the peninsula of Spain, and in the East Indies, under the direction of Lord Wellington and Lord Minto both of them, being eminently distinguished by active and extensive genius, bright ornaments of their country.

CONTENT S.

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

CHAPTER I.

Changes in the British Ministry.-Meeting of Parliament.-King's

Speech. Addresses moved in reply in both Houses.-Amendments

proposed.-Debates thereon-Involving particularly a Review of the

War in Spain-And the calamitous Expedition to the Scheldt .. 1

CHAP. II.

House of Lords.-Motion for the Thanks of the House to Lord Viscount

Wellington, and the Officers and the Army under his command, for the

Victory over the Enemy at Talavera-opposed-supported-carried.-

In the Course of the Debate fresh Discussions on the Affairs of Spain,

both political and military.-House of Commons.-Thanks moved to

Lord Wellington and the Army.-Arguments pro. and con., and Dis-

cussions nearly the same as in the House of Lords.-Motion for Thanks

to Lord Wellington carried without a Division of the House; that to

the Army unanimously.-House of Commons.-Motion by Lord Coch-

rane, for Minutes of the Court Martial held on Lord Gambier, and

the Object of this Motion.-Debates and Discussions.-Lord Coch-

rane's Motion negatived by a great Majority-Motion of Thanks to

Admiral Gambier, &c. &c.-The Motion for Thanks to Lord Gambier

carried on a Division of the House ;-that for thanks to the other Offi-

cers, and Acknowledgments to the Seamen and Marines, unani-

mously.-Motion for Thanks to the same Parties in the House of

Lords. Agreed to...

CHA P. III.

27

House of Commons.-Motion by Lord Porchester, for an Inquiry into

the late disastrous Expedition to the Scheldt.-Long Debates.-Lord

Porchester's Motion carried by a small Majority.—A Committee of

the whole House appointed to inquire into the Causes of the Failure

of the Expedition to the Scheldt.-Motion for Papers relative to

that Subject, agreed to.-Appointment of a Secret Committee for the

Inspection and Selection of Information of a Nature improper to be

made public

....... 41

CHAP. IV.

House of Commons proceeds in the Inquiry into the Expedition to the

Scheldt.-Found among the Papers on the Table, a Narrative of the

Expedition to the Scheldt, signed by Lord Chatham, and presented to

his Majesty, without the Intervention of any responsible Minister.-

The Purpose for which this was apparently framed.-This clandestine

Proceeding of Lord Chatham arraigned by some Members as uncon-

stitutional-defended by others.-Motion by Mr. Whitbread, for an

Address to his Majesty, for Copies of all Reports, &c. submitted at any

Time to his Majesty, by the Earl of Chatham, relative to the late Ex-

pedition.-Debates.-The Motion carried by a small Majority.-The

King's Answer to the Address respecting Lord Chatham's Narrative.-

Inserted in the Journals of the House.-House of Lords.-Motion by

the Marquis of Lansdown, for an Address to his Majesty, respecting

his Majesty's Answer to the City of London.-Cause and Object of

this Motion.-Debate.-Discussions respecting the Policy and Con-

duct of the Scheldt Expedition.-Lord Lansdown's Motion negatived.

House of Commons.-Specific Resolutions moved by Mr. Whitbread,

on the Narrative of the Earl of Chatham.-Long Debates.-The

Resolutions carried by a small Majority

СНАР. V.

50

Summary View of the Impolicy and Misconduct of the Expedition to the

Scheldt-Resolutions moved by Lord Porchester on that subject.—

Debate of four Days.-Lord Porchester's Resolutions negatived.-

The Conduct of Ministers with regard to the Policy of the Expedition to

Walcheren approved.-The Retention of Walcheren also approved. 75

CHAP. VI.

The standing Order for the Exclusion of Strangers from the Gallery of

the House of Commons, during the Inquiry into the Scheldt affair,

enforced by Mr. Yorke.-Motion on the Subject of this standing

Order by Mr. Sheridan-Who displays the Advantages of the Liberty

of the Press, and particularly the unrestrained Publication of the

Debates and Proceedings of Parliament.-Mr. Sheridan's Motion

negatived.-The Vote for enforcing the standing Order made a Sub-

ject of Discussion in a Debating Club, and severely censured.-John

Gale Jones, the President of the Club, sent to Newgate by the House

of Commons. In this Step, it is contended, by Sir Francis Burdett,

that the House of Commons exceeded their Constitutional Powers.

Motion by Sir Francis for the Liberation of John Gale Jones.-

Debate. The Motion negatived by a vast Majority.—Letter from

Sir Francis Burdett to his Constituents, published in a Weekly Paper,

denying the Right of the House of Commons to imprison the People

of England.-Brought under the Consideration of the House of Com-

mons.-Long Debates.-Sir Francis Burdett ordered to be sent to the

Tower.-Delay in the Execution of the Order.-Saucy Letter from

Sir Francis to the Speaker of the House of Commons.-Sir Francis

taken from his House by force, and sent to the Tower.-Tumults

and Accidents.-Sir Francis Burdett's Letter to the Speaker laid by

him before the House.-Severe Strictures on the Conduct of Sir Fran-

cis Burdett.-Resolution of the House of Commons on Si Francis

Burdett's Letter to the Speaker.-Actions at Law brought by Sir

Francis Burdett against the Speaker, the Serjeant at Arms, and the

Earl of Moira, as Constable of the Tower.-These Parties defended.

And the Privilege of the House of Commons, in the Cases to which

they refer, recognized by the Court of King's Bench, as Part of the

Law of the Land.-Addresses to Sir Francis Burdett, and Petitions

to the House of Commons for his Release; and also for that of Mr.

Jones from Newgate.-A grand Procession arranged, intended as an

Act of National Homage to Sir Francis Burdett, on the Day of his

Liberation from the Tower.-Sir Francis Burdett slips away from

the Tower by Water.-Discontents at this.-But the Procession goes

.-Remarks on the Conduct of Sir Francis Burdett in conniving at

the Design, but declining to join in the Procession.-Reflections on

the Practice of publishing Daily Accounts of what passes in Parlia-

on.-

ment...

CHAP. VII.

86

Finance-Ways and Means of the Year for Great Britain and for

Ireland.-Affairs of the East India Company.-Offices in Reversion

Bill.-Passed in the House of Commons, but thrown out of the House

of Lords.-Third Report of the Committee of Finance.-Motion by

Mr. Martin respecting Public Economy.-Resolutions on this Subject

moved by Mr. Banks respecting Sinecure Places and exorbitant

Salaries or emoluments.-Offices in Reversion Bill.-Resolutions

moved by Mr. Horner and agreed to, respecting Bullion, and Foreign

Coins, Bank Notes, &c. &c.-Bullion Committee appointed.-Their

Report.-Twelfth Report of the Commissioners of Military Inquiry.

-Expulsion of Mr. Hunt, for Peculation, from the House of

Commons

CHAP. VIII.

116

--

Mr. Brand's Motion for Parliamentary Reform negatived.-Mr. Grat-

tan's Motion for a Committee on the Catholic Petitions.-Debated.-

Negatived.-A Motion to the same Effect in the House of Lords, by the

Earl of Donoughmore, negatived.-Measures adopted by the Legisla-

ture for Conciliating the Attachment of the Irish Nation.- Motion by

Sir Samuel Romilly for bringing under the Consideration of the House

of Commons some Parts of the Criminal Law of this Country.-

Agreed to, and leave given to bring in a Bill for that Purpose.-Ob-

jections to the Bill.-Debates.-The Bill rejected.-Motion by Sir

Samuel Romilly for carrying into Execution the Acts already passed

for the Erection of Penitentiary Houses, for confining and employing

Convicts.-The Principle of this System approved, but some time