" " "rendered unnecessary," I am by no means "progressive improvement in the state of inclined to make matter of dispute; but "his Majesty's health, a further adjournhis wishes, however sincere, may be dis- "ment for a fortnight was agreed to; in appointed, and his opinion (not more like- the Lords, nem. diss. and in the Comly to be correct for coinciding with his "mons by a gratifying and triumphant wishes) may prove erroneous. And, if majority of 343 to 58; nor would the this should be the case, what argument" minority on this occasion, insignificant can, by Mr. Sheridan, be urged against as it is, have amounted to any thing another 14 days adjournment, if the same "beyond the contemptible Wardleite and statement that has now been made should" Burdestite Members, had not the misagain be made by the minister?-SIR "chievous sir Francis artfully entrapped SAMUEL ROMILLY agreed with Mr. Whit-" several Members of the Opposition bread and Sir Francis Burdett. "He "Party to divide with him upon the ques " would," he said," ask those Gentlemen "tion so very indelicately pressed by him "who reasoned in that way, was it nothing "6 upon the House. With very few ex"to consent to an adjournment for a fort- "ceptions, there was displayed in both night, to put it out of their power during "Houses, on this occasion, a most credit"fourteen days to resort to any measures, "able and becoming sympathy, and the con"which a possible, not to say a probable," duct of Lord Moira and Mr. Sheridan, "contingency might render necessary? "who on all occasions of real national im"Was it to do nothing, to deprive them-"portance are ever actively to be found "selves by such a proceeding of all opportunity, during that interval, of faithfully discharging those important duties " which their constituents sent them there "to perform? It was upon this ground that he felt himself bound to oppose "the adjournment for a fortnight, with a "view if that should be negatived to sup"port an adjournment for twenty-four << hours. In doing this, he was per"suaded, he was taking the most effectual "mode of shewing his loyalty, his affection," "and attachment to his Majesty; because "nothing could so directly tend to sup"port and strengthen the best interests of "the Crown, than that, during a period "when there was a possibility of the oc"currence of great national dangers and "disasters, that House should be ready to "resort to such measures as the exigency "of the case might require." " MR. "at their post, is entitled to our best com "mendations. In the House of Lords, not"withstanding some observations from "Lords Grenville and Grey, to the justice "or necessity of which we can by no "means subscribe, the question of ad"journment was carried, as we have al"ready observed, nem. diss.; nor would "there have been any division in the Commons, where the Opposition, were un willing to expose the weakness of their numbers, had not Sir Francis Burdett, "after some reprehensible and insidious in"sinuations, relative to the exercise of the "Executive Power, entrapped Mr, Whit"bread and some others, who to hide a "still greater shame, and wear the sem"blance of consistency, found themselves compelled to vote with the mischievous "Baronet. We are not, however, dis"pleased at the patriotic expedient to "which the worthy Sir Francis has thus "had recourse, as it serves to shew bow "contemptible are the numbers of those "those nature is debased by the vile views "of fuction, and whose unmanly feelings and 66 BRAGGE was for the adjournment, and MR. ELLIOT against it. The latter urged, very forcibly, the necessity of adhering to the principles of the constitution, and the objections to the adjourning upon such grounds as the bare assertion of a minisungenerous hearts forbid, as it were, their ter. MR. WILBERFORCE declared for "sympathy, in a case which, to the everthe adjournment; and, at the close of his "lasting honour of the country be it respeech, the House divided, when there lated, so deeply interests the best feelings, appeared for the Adjournment 343, and "and fills with keen solicitude the fond against it 58.We are now to see what" bosoms of a people, who in duly apthe Morning Post news-paper has said "preciating his virtues, prove themselves upon the subject of this debate, and espe- deserving the best Monarch that ever cially upon the subject of SIR FRANCIS" adorned a Throne.". -It was this same BURDETT's speech. It begins thus :- writer, who a few weeks ago, accused "Both Houses of Parliament met yester- the Emperor of France and his miday pursuant to the last adjournment, nisters of boasting of the horrid crime, "when, in consequence of the happy and for which some infamous wretches bad 953] tions of men; and that every thing which just been exhibited in the Pillory in London; the very same writer, who, since, that, has represented the Empress Maria Louisa, daughter of our late ally, the Em-treme, to the liberties of the people, peror of Austria, as being about to be, the Thus, then, has his conduct, upon this ocmother of bastards; and this is the writer, casion, been the natural consequence of who calls SIR FRANCIS BURDETT mischiev- all the opinions, which he has, at any ous, and who bestows his commendation upon time, uttered respecting the Royal Office This is and Authority-Sir Francis Burdett the conduct of MR. SHERIDAN. the writer, the leader of all those, who wanted to entrap nobody. He knew very write against those whom they call "Ja- well, that the greater part of those who cobins." This is the writer, who ac- voted with him yesterday had no liking. But, it was for him, cuses Sir Francis Burdett of disloyal to his political views. to do his duty, regardless of whether he designs. And, from these circumstances had 50 or 1 vote with him. It was nothing. alone, the man of sense will be able to form a pretty correct judgment of what is to him, personally, whether the thing went the real tendency of such designs. But, on or not. He had nothing to gain and will this publication be suffered to pass nothing to lose by any change that could take place. He had no hopes and no unnoticed by the House of Commons? Nothing to Mr. GALE JONES was sent to Newgate for fears of a private nature. questioning the propriety of the conduct of whet him on into eagerness for a Regency, one of the members. Now here is a writer, and nothing to make him affect a desire to postpone the accomplishment of a life who publishes to the world, that the conduct of one of the members, in opposing of longing. Nothing to give a real blunt a motion of the minister, is "reprehensible, or a sham keenness to his feelings for an "insidious, and mischievous" and, who aged and most afflicted sovereign, He describes all those, who voted against the had, and he could have no motive for sayminister, as being persons "who by nature ing, upon such an occasion, what was not the genuine sentiments of his mind. These " are debased by the vile views of faction," sentiments he uttered, regardless, as far as and whose "hearts and feelings are un"manly and ungenerous.”—This is what concerned himself, whether they were the writer of the Morning Post dares do. supported by others or not; and in se This is what the most venal of the venal doing he has added another to his many dares publish. This is what he is not in former claims to the People's approba the least afraid to promulgate and to vend. tion and confidence.As to the subWe shall see, now, whether this will be ject of the Regency, that subject, upon I beg the reader which every one talks in private, and so noticed by the House. to bear it in mind, and to observe, tbat few in public, why, in the name of common sense, should men feel any shyness? the abuse is extended to the whole of the 58 members, who were not to be prevailed Those, indeed, who are hunting after ofupon to refrain from voting against the mi- fice, and who are afraid to look either to nister; that it is levelled at the very cha- the right or to the left, may reasonably be racter of every one of those, who voted against shy; but, why should any body else? the minister's motion.--Sir Francis Bur-Why should any man, who has nothing to dett's conduct, upon this occasion, was in fear from the ups and downs of parties, be perfect agreement with all his former de-shy or timid or backward upon this subclarations relative to the nature of theject more than upon any other? There kingly functions and office. He has always deprecated any attempt to chip away the just prerogatives of the King. He has always said, that one of the ends of a parliamentary reform was to make the King independent; of cabals and factions. He has always said that he wished to see the King in a state to make it necessary for him to consult only the wishes and good of his people. He has, in short, always said, that he found no danger to liberty from the power of the King, exereised without any controul from combina are some men, who seem to avoid it with the same caution that weak minds turn from the making of a will. But, suppos ing the implied apprehensions to be just, and which I suppose only for argument's sake, is it not manifest, that the King's faculties cannot be restored nor his life preserved by avoiding to speak of his present malady or of his possibly approaching death, which must come sooner or later, and which, as with all other men, though it may yet be distant, may also be very near? It is, to say the very best of it, air of an order from the Cortes, in order that after being compared with the former one, the best might be preferred.-The President ordered the public to withdraw at noon, and the sitting continued until half after four o'clock. therefore, contemptible weakness to avoid | Member proposed the reading of some the subject of a Regency, and it is some-police regulations, which should have the thing infinitely worse than contemptible weakness to attempt to make the world believe, that this shyness arises from any thing like tenderness towards the King. The good of it is that there are none of our young lords or 'squires (if there are any of the latter left in England) have any scruple at all to contemplate the prospect of their father's death, and to talk, with perfect composure, of what they will do in case of that event. Whose son does not do this? And what father has not done it before him? Away, then, with all this affected tenderness towards the King; and let us, as in other cases of human decline, talk like men of sense and sincerity, and let all our sorrows for the unhappy malady of the father, be accompanied by hopes in his son and lawful successor. There is but one other way, and that is to hold our tongues. WM. COBBETT. State Prison, Newgate, Friday, October 4.A plan from general Vellaba was presented, respecting the aug mentation and other regulations of the cavalry, which was reserved to be finally discussed.CAPMANY observed, that the Spanish language being very copious, all foreign expressions ought to be rejected, especially French expressions, with which the regulations were overloaded: he condemned, therefore the words, march, motion, assembly, session, mission, retire, guarantee, honourable, and bar: he objected to some on account of their real import, and to others on account of the meaning which was attached to them. "Gentlemen," he concluded, "We must both live and die Spaniards."-Deputy MEXIA ascended the tribune, and complained of the infidelity of the Conciso, in its manner of printing the deliberations of that Congress, and the little respect shewn in the said paper to its members-TENREIROS demanded that their debates should only be on war and the means of exterminating their ene mies. The President replied, that this was one of the great objects of their Jabours, and an end which would only be obtained through the regular means.A October 5.-MEXIA proposed certain regulations respecting the Royal Bank notes, in order to distinguish those circulated in the free provinces, from the others; but they came to no resolution.CAPMANY complained, likewise, of the inaccuracy of the Conciso, and of its want of respect towards the National Deputies. On this account the propriety was suggested by Perez de Castro, of admitting a periodical publication, proposed by Oliveros, and edited by an officer of the military college, applying the products to the benefit of this useful establishment; which judicious proposal was approved.-OLIVEROS recommended the translation of the Cortes to Cadiz, pointing out the church of St. Philip as a very eligible spot; but on this important motion, nothing was finally settled.The regulations were again examined, on which they debated upwards of two hours. The zealous Gonzales exclaimed, "Let us debate only on war and on justice." At the conclusion it was settled, that extraordinary sittings should be held from 8 to 10 at night, to be wholly occupied in the wished for regulations.— OLIVEROS mentioned his being informed from Cadiz, that the Executive Government had issued orders prohibiting any discussions on the Cortes at any public meeting-The Cortes passed a resolution to make enquiries respecting this subject of the Regency. October 6.The sitting began with a petition from the Cardinal to be allowed to take the oath; and after some deliberations, on account of the peculiar circumstances, it was accorded. It was resolved to intimate to the Regency, the wishes of the Cortes that their acts should be regularly published in a Gazette. October 7.-The Count of Norona asked permission to speak, and his object being investigated by two deputies, it was resolved to hear him in private at one o'clock p.m.-MEXIA proposed some commercial regulations to be committed to a Junta, in which two members from that of Cadiz, and an equal number of Americans, should be incorporated. The Congress granted a | took the oaths in the usual form. Perez commission to this effect, comprising also de Castro made mention of a plan both agriculture, arts and sciences, but omitted defensive and offensive for this Isle, prethe circumstance of the proposal.- sented by General Galuzzo; and of anoFLERRETA complained of the violation of ther with regard to the cavalry, by the secrecy observed respecting the letters Marquis del Palacio; both were sent to which were opened at the Post-office. the Commission of War to be examined. HUERLA exclaimed against this proceeding, There was also read a circular letter from and maintained this to be the worst period Senor Llorente, Inspector General of the to adopt such a measure, when the pro- Public Health, with regard to its present vinces must necessarily communicate sub- state. It declared that the number of sick jects of importance to their deputies, which persons was very small; and in order to it was highly proper should be kept from calm the fears to which several unfounded the executive power. The public retired reports had given rise, it added, the numat one, and the debates were privately ber of infectious disorders was unusually continued till four o'clock. small. October 13.- OLIVEROS, one of the most zealous members of the august Congress, and Deputy for Estremadura,.read a memorial, in which he painted, in the most lively colours, the disorders in which the French leave those districts which they abandon, the numberless evils which their commissaries have caused by their requi October 8 On this day several memorials were read respecting various branches of the revenue; and a project presented by ARGUELLES, respecting the liberty of the press, being the fruit of the labours of the commission charged with the same. Nothing was ultimately decided, but the nation may flatter itself, because the opinion of all illustrious men will be heard.sitions of men and provisions, the waste of It is indeed a reflection on the human mind that there should be any one daring enough to write against the liberty of the press: to such an individual only it ought not to be free. The answer from the executive Dower to the question proposed by the Cortes, respecting the order mentioned by Oliveros, in the 5th day's sitting, was read. The Regency has never forbidden any iscussion on the Cortes, and the only hing it may charge its agents and minisrs with is to watch over their calumnia r3. all resources, and the miseries,in particular, of the cultivators of the ground, by having to support the enemies armies and their own; the decline of the manufactures of common cloths, in consequence of the manufactories being stripped of them without payment, in order to clothe the dif ferent armies:-the consequences of all which would be poverty, nakedness, and a general famine, if proper measures were not adopted. He then proposed such measures as appeared to him to be proper, for the purpose of being transmitted to the respective Commissioners of War, Finance, &c.; concluding with proposing the appointment of a commission for regulating and organising the provinces, which might guard against evils such as those which they had already suffered, and repair them in the best possible manner. Considering these matters as urgent, and calling for precedency before others the Cortespassed a decree to this effect. October 9. The Cardinal de Bourbon ok the oath, after which the President idressed him in the following terms; The blood which flows through your tins, as well as that purple, recommends Fou to this Assembly."-A Secretary pard, consisting of five members, was stituted, for which employment officers the army, who are unable to undergo e fatigues of a campaign, are to be preFred. Three deputies were also named October 14.-In a former sitting' ARinvestigate and report the merits of the GUELLES had produced the plan of a law didates. The President mentioned his on the liberty of the press, which comwing received several anonymous comprised, first, the limits of that liberty, and nications, complaining of the slowness the operations of the Cortes. He ordered public to withdraw at twelve o'clock, d the sitting was continued until three. October 10.A Deputy for La Mancha the penalties for transgressors; and secondly, the appointment of a Junta of learned men, with the title of Supreme Council Protector of the Liberty of the Press, in order to protect it from ministerial despotism, and from tyranny.-It was the Cortes in the field at Torrealto, in presence of General LAPENA. The concourse of people was innumerable, the spectacle very fine, and the enthusiasm of all, both soldiers and peasants, was equal. October 16.-There was read a Decree of the Cortes passed yesterday, on the claims of the Americans, in which it was declared, That the Spanish dominions in both hemispheres form one sole monarchy, agreed that this plan should be printed, and copies distributed among all the Deputies, in order that they might consider the subject maturely, and be prepared to discuss it. This day, the plan being again read, Tenreiro opposed it, alledging, that it was not right to discuss such an important topic without the concurrence of the Deputies who were still wanting.-What! (replied another Member), without their presence the Cortes were installed; with out their presence, the Spanish people re-one sole nation, one sole family; and that covered their sovereignty, an event which the native born subjects of the European will form an era in our anuals; and is it and ultramarine dominions are equal in possible, that for an affair not of such im rights to those of this Peninsula; leaving portance, we are to wait for a few Depu- it as the province of the Cortes to discuss ties? But the discussion of it was not all measures relating to the prosperity of fixed for to-day."-" It was," replied va-those beyond sea, as well as of the form rious individuals. This was confirmed by of the national representation and number the President. "We do not come pre-of its members in both hemispheres; depared," replied another; upon which claring also that, in all those transatlantic LUXAN ascended the tribune, and the plan provinces where any commotions have was read.-TENREIRO rose again: he de-taken place, there shall be a general act of claimed against the liberty of the press, oblivion with regard to them, from the and represented it as the origin of the ruin moment when the sovereign authority of empires. (He would not, however, per-which resides in the mother country is mit himself to see that this liberty sup- acknowledged. ports the British empire). Some disapprobation was expressed, but Tenreiro October 18A letter was read, in which continued to go on, till at last the disap- the Junta of Etemadura felicitated the probation became more marked.-AR- Cortes, &c.-Various projects and memoCUELLES then ascended the tribune. Herials were transmitted to the respective shewed that the want of a free communi- commissions. The discussion upon the cation of ideas had given arms to the Ty-liberty of the press followed. Senor GAL rant for our destruction; that the English, CIA HERREROS was for liberty of the press aware of the cunning arts of those who without any censorship, in imitation of the meant to oppress then, gave freedom to the Supreme Tribunal, which never took upon pen and liberty to the press; they dis- itself to censure any book before it was entangled and established their principles; printed.-Sener MEXIA read an articl they unveiled the plots of their enemics, from the Gazette, which mentioned, "tha and refuted their sophisms; their people Buonaparté had decreed, that there shall were instructed, and not left exposed to illu-be only one newspaper, of which the P sion by such means they were all united, fect was to be ceusor." He added, a and rendered themselves invincible. The the Cortes ought not to wish to rese reverse had been the fate of the Spa- Buonaparté.-Senor ARGUELLES pronounos niards; deprived of its free course, know-ed an eulogiunt on the discourse of Mu ledge became stagnant, the learned re- TORRERO in a former discussion on this su mained dumb, the ignorant were imposed ject, and refuted that of Llaneras. He upon; hence divisions, disunion, the ruin served, that the best mode of correcting of the nation, and the exaltation of the man was the liberty of the press; and b enemy.-MEXIA succeeded, and with ex- ticed, that during the ministry of God, quisite erudition and animated eloquence when there were censors, altars were rais proved, that the sacred writings, our vene- ed to lasciviousness, &c. He defied y rable religion, history and reason, favour- one to say that three ages of disorder ed the liberty of the press. It was resolv- arising from the liberty of the press could ed that the discussion should be continued produce such great evils as those we ha on the following day. To day at 10 in suffered from the want of it, the morning, the troops took the oath to (To be continued.) Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden :-Sold also by J. BUDI), Pall-Me LONDON :-Printed by T. C. Hansard, Peterborough-Court, Fleet-Street, |