COBBETT'S WEEKLY POLITICAL REGISTER.

VOL. XXIII. No. 15.] LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1813.

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by those who live in London, and will be easily believed by those who do not live in London, that so short a notice is insufficient to cause the thing to reach the knowledge of a fiftieth part of the Livery of London. Nevertheless, it appears, that the Hall, large as the space is, was as much crowded as upon almost any former occasion, when all the means of collecting large assemblages had been made use of. We now proceed to the Report, and I once more beg leave to request the reader's particular attention to the parts performed by the several actors; because we shall, and must, have much to say upon their conduct.

SUMMARY OF POLITICS. CITY OF LONDON ADDRESS.- -In my last Number, at page 501, I made some observations upon the subject of the proposed Address of the City of London to Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales. Since those observations were made, or, I believe, at the very time I was making them, the City of London met, and agreed to an Address.—The proceedings of this body are always entitled to respectful attention, when they relate to matters of general interest; but, upon this particular occasion, they are so entitled in an extraordinary degree, as they not only give us a "A Common Hall assembled yesterday, striking proof of the sentiments of the peo-" at Guildhall, in pursuance of the notice ple as to the treatment which the Princess "which had been given," to take into has received, but they discover to us the" consideration the propriety of presenting workings of the two great factions who live" a loyal and affectionate Address to Her upon and hunt after the public money." Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, These proceedings show, in the clearest" on the subject of the lately exposed wicked possible light, the difference in the views of " and cruel attempts against Her Royal the different descriptions of politicians." Highness's character and life."—The Therefore I shall bestow particular atten- Requisition having been read, the LORD tion upon them, more especially as it may "MAYOR said, that, in pursuance of the be, and must be, of great importance to "wish which he always entertained to do place the thing in its true light before the "justice to every individual of the Livery, eyes of Her Royal Highness, the Princess," he should beg leave to read a letter he and also before those of her Royal Daughter," had received from one of the Liverymen whose opinions become every day of more "who signed the requisition.-The letand more importance to the nation.- "ter was then read; it was signed VANViewing in this light the late Meeting of "DERCOMBE, and stated that the writer the Citizens of London, I shall, previous" had been induced to sign the requisition to the observations that I intend to make on when the ferment respecting what had what passed, insert the report of the pro-" been so inappropriately termed the Deliceedings, as I find that report in the Morn-"cate Investigation was at its height, but ing Chronicle of the 3d instant, and which" the state of things having changed, he did report I must request the reader to go over "not think the measure required was exwith attention. He will here see a new "pedient (not from any doubts, however, distribution of parts amongst some of the "as to the innocence of the Princess of principal actors; and, he will obtain better" Wales), and begged that his name might means, perhaps, of judging of the real" be withdrawn from the Requisition. views of those actors than he has ever be-" (Hisses.) ———— The LORD MAYOR said, fore possessed.The reader will please" that not being at liberty to withdraw the to bear in mind, that the requisition was 66 name in question from the Requisition, delivered to the Lord Mayor on the 29th of" he had deemed it his duty to have the March; and, that the notice for holding" letter read. the Common Hall was not published by "MR. ALDERMAN WOOD then him till the 31st of March, leaving but one "came forward and addressed the Hall. day's interval; and, it is very well known" He said, that in offering to them a mo

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❝tion for presenting an Address to Her" who, in such circumstances, could rescue "Royal Highness the Princess of Wales," the Princess from the conspiracy against he only regretted his inability to do jus- her, and could compose this letter, which "tice to the cause, which he should have" did honour both to his head and his "wished to have fallen into abler hands." heart. The other professional men of the "Much pains had been taken to put a stop" Princess had acted in a manner which did "to any proceedings in this case, and he" them honour, and but for the letter of "had been astonished at the number of ap-" Mr. Brougham, he did not know how the "plications, with that view, he had received" innocence of the Princess could have been' "both from the City and the West end of" shewn as it had been. He could not the Town, from persons whose motives" conceive who would oppose this motion; "for so doing he could not guess at. He" not the Gentlemen who called themselves "had another ground of complaint in the "the loyal of the day (laughing). It "conduct, which had been the cause that could do no hurt to any part of the Royal "there was present a less numerous meet- "Family to shew the innocence of the ing than he could have wished. Ile had" Princess; and least of all could the Prince "called on the Lord Mayor last Saturday," Regent be hurt at the innocence of his "with the view of receiving his Lordship's "wife. He had once thought on propos"determination on the assembling of the "ing also an Address on the subject to the present Hall; he had called again on "Prince Regent himself; but at any rate Monday, and on Tuesday, and his Lord- the Prince Regent would be glad to see ship had desired him not to call on Wed-" them go up to the Princess with an Ad"nesday; and he had learned by accident," dress recognizing her innocence.—It by a note at his counting-house, that the might be said that this was not the time "Hall was summoned for that day.. It" for such an Address. He had had had been so managed, that the Livery-"thoughts, when the Prince of Wales was "men could not have had more than a day's" called to the Regency, to propose an Ad"nolice. He (Mr. Wood) had wanted a "dress, such as the present, as he was at "full Common Hall, to know whether the that time able to have gone into as much "Princess of Wales was not to be cherish-" evidence as it present, but it was object"ed by the City of London, and in this heed that the subject was unknown to the had been disappointed, and he was" public. The Princess had lately been "equally certain, that in their voting with "oppressed by the weight of another inhim he should not be disappointed. It "quiry; that was not now the case. "had been rumoured, that many of his po- "had waited to see whether, on the motion litical friends, who usually voted with of Mr. Cochrane Johnstone, any satisfac"him, had intended not to act with him "tory measure might be adopted by the "on this occasion; this had been said in "House of Commons, but he had been "the one solitary news-paper which did" disappointed; and if they waited for the "not support the cause of the Princess." House of Commons, they might wait He (Mr. W.) had not heard this from" until they had no breath to express them"them, and if such was their intention," selves with. There was very little in ❝he hoped it would be, as in former cases, "his motives for bringing forward his pre"when, after having been of a contrary" sent motion of a political, and less of a "opinion to him, they had supported his party nature. He had been asked by "proposition when they found it friendly" one of his friends, whether he thought he "to the liberty of the people. He hoped" could do any good by this motion-that "that at present they would also come for-" he could not change the Administration "ward and shew themselves friends to jus-" by it (a laugh). This, he answered, "tice and enemies to conspiracy. (Ap-" was quite immaterial, as the parties "plause). It would be unnecessary for" were all alike. The political motives "him to go into the case before them; he "for such a motion were sufficient, as it "hoped they had read the excellent letter "was connected with circumstances which "of the Princess to the King, though he affected the succession of the Crown, and "feared it had not been read by 9-10ths of "might involve the country in a civil war. "the people of England. Though he (Mr." But his principal motive was, to do that "Wood) had been always an enemy to Mr." justice to an injured woman, which he "Perceval, by whom it had been written," should have been willing to afford to one "because he was an enemy to the liberty" of the lowest rank, and which, as he had "of the people, yet he revered the man," been always a loyal man, he should al

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"THE LORD MAYOR said, that be"fore the worthy Alderman concluded, he "wished to set him right as to what he "had stated concerning the summoning of "the Common Hall. He (the Lord Mayor)" "had desired the worthy Alderman to call "on him on Wednesday, to receive his "determination.

64 ways be glad to advocate for one of the "geance, that no credit should be attached "highest. He should not go into the evi- "to it. The Commissioners had not given "dence of the case, but merely remark," in the testimony of Edmeades and Mills "that it was wonderful that the Princess" as respectable, and yet as respectable "had, under such a conspiracy, behaved "men as themselves. The House of Com"with so much moderation. He hoped "mons had refused justice in this case, on "the City of London would do all they "account of their own regulations, though "could to support this good woman, by "they broke them at any time when they "supporting his motion. He should now "found it convenient. The Ministry, too, 66 propose his motion. "had offered to abandon the Princess, as "Mr. Canning had stated in the House of "Commons; and they had not denied it, because they knew he was an old sinner "like themselves. Her innocence was, however, so well established, that on the "present occasion, when she had been de"clared innocent, even Sir William Gur"tis cried "Hear!" Sir John Douglas "Mr. Alderman WooD said, that he had come forward with a petition, know"had understood, that the Lord Mayor had" ing it would never be granted, and a "desired him not to call on that day.-- "letter had appeared under the name of "(Cry of "No consequence.")-Mr. W." Lord Moira, insinuating new charges "concluded by moving, that a Loyal Ad-" against the Princess, which that Peer "dress be presented to the Princess of" ought to disavow, or to prove the asser"Wales, on the late disclosure of the "tions it contained. He (Mr. T.) was "wicked and cruel attempt against Her "convinced the Princess was free not only "Royal Highness's character and life." from criminality, but from any levity, (Cry of Read!)-The worthy Alderman" and it was their duty to lift up their said, it would be more regular to read "hands against those who had conspired "the Address he should propose after the " against her. The conduct of Charles the "motion was seconded. "Second should have been imitated on this "The motion having been seconded, "occasion by the Prince Regent. "MR. THOMPSON said, the Princess "the Ministers of that Monarch proposed "of Wales, after having been denied jus-" to divorce him from his wife, he said, "tice in the House of Commons, had come "" I do not like her, but I will not suffer "as a last resort to the people, by whom," her to be insulted."

"he hoped, that in spite of the parasites of power, the most decisive verdict of ́ac

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"MR. TADDY said, he should not "have come forward on this occasion, if

quittal would be declared. They should" he had not been alluded to by the worsuppose what their feelings would be if "thy mover. He allowed that the Princess they had a daughter in the situation of "had been injured and neglected; but he "the Princess, separated from her hus-"did not conceive that she would wish to "band, and surrounded by spies. But the "come to the Common-hall to justify her "Princess had no father, and had been" character, which stood in so fair a light, "lately deprived of her mother; and he" that she needed not such acquittal. He "hoped the City of London would supply" did not think it the proper time, because "the place of both. He did not know" he looked forward to the conciliation of why the Mother-in-Law of the Princess" all parties. "all parties. The question was one of "had not been condoling with her. Fe- "feeling, and they should take care not to "male malice must have been at work" disturb the existing tranquillity. "against her. He should not use the "SIR W. CURTIS said, that he was "words of Lord Ellenborough (for they "not affected by any illiberal allusion "might, by marking the effect of ungo"which had been made to him, as he met "vernable passion, avoid language, which" them with confidence that they agreed was fit only for Noblemen); but let with him. He agreed that the Princess "them look at the contradictory evidence" of Wales was wickedly and cruelly treat"affixed to the Report of 1806, and say "ed (applause), and that the witnesses "what man of them would have affixed his "were perjured. His wish was reconcili"name to it. The evidence of the Doug-"ation, but the question was, what was "lasses began with such a principle of ven- "the way to go about it? It was a dan

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gerous thing to interfere. One of the "Was it too great an insult for the Livery "instances in which his life was in immi- "of London, even high as its character "nent danger was from such an interfer-" stood for wisdom, prudence, and respect. 66 ence. He had taken part in a quarrel" ability, to follow the judicious precedent "between a man and his wife, and it was "of the two houses of Parliament ?” "the greatest mercy in his life that he was now able to stand on his legs (laughing)." "He would recognize the innocence of the "Princess in its fullest sense; but he "thought the best way was to drop the "subject. He should move that they do now adjourn.

66 tary reform, or peace and war, but of all "subjects the present was the most impro"per to be discussed here: why were the "Livery to give its decision upon the ques"tion whether Capt. Manby did or did not

"MR. STURCH, as an old Liveryman, anxious to preserve the character of the "body to which he belonged, begged "Gentlemen to reflect whether they would "not DEGRADE themselves by passing "the vole suggested. He did not doubt "that the worthy Alderman acted from a "SIR JAMES SHAW wished to state "sense of duty in bringing it forward, and "to the Livery the reasons that induced him" he hoped that equal justice would be "to second the amendment. He admitted, "done him for his motives in resisting it, "that viewing the evidence against the "Loud disapprobation.) It was at least "Princess of Wales with the eye of a ma"PREMATURE, since the question was gistrate, it appeared to him to be from "NOT YET RIPE FOR DECISION, "beginning to end a tissue of perjury and" and much evidence, he was convinced, "subornation, and had it been given be- "remained behind to shew the origin of this "fore any Court of Record, the witnesses" malignant conspiracy. He highly ap "might and ought to have been subjected" proved of the assembly of a Common "to a prosecution. It was clear, therefore," Hall to vote upon questions of parliamen"to him, that the Princess had been com"pletely vindicated, but the question for "the Livery to decide was, whether further "public discussion of this painful subject "would tend to any favourable conclusion. "The House of Commons had determined" kiss the Princess of Wales?-The marks "that it was impolitic, and the Livery of "London would best shew its loyalty and "wisdom by following the example. He "MR. WAITHMAN stepped forward to " acknowledged that the disclosures recent- "entreat the Hall to behave with imparti"ly made tended to lessen the respect of "ality. His excellent Friend, who in the "the people for the monarchy, as well as city of Westminster had so long laboured "for the family that filled the throne: he" in the cause of the rights of the people, "wished that, at least, appearances had "might be mistaken in his views, but he "been preserved, but the vote proposed" was delivering the honest sentiments of a "would widen the unfortunate breach that "well-informed understanding, and they “existed.—/ Marks of disapprobation). "ought to command respect.' MR. "MR. ALDERMAN ATKINS was of "STURCH concluded without interruption, "the same opinion, and would not now "by repeating THE DANGERS that were "have taken any part in the discussion of " to be feared from this injudicious pro"this question, had it not been expected" ceeding, and by impressing the necessity "from him in consequence of the speeches" of at least waiting until ADDITIONAL, "of his colleagues. He was one of those" LIGHT was thrown upon this mysterious "who had in vain attempted to sway the" and painful subject.

" of disapprobation were now so vehement "that Mr. Sturch was unable to proceed."

"judgment of the worthy Alderman who "MR. WAITHMAN then addressed "had persisted in this motion, because he" the Hall, not because he could add any "thought (and he trusted he should not "thing new to what had already been urg"stand alone in the opinion) that reconcili- "ed, but because his silence might be mis"ation was not to be forced upon the illus-" interpreted. He was likewise one of "trious parties by the interference of the "those who had endeavoured to dissuade "Livery. In this sentiment he trusted he" the worthy Alderman from persevering in "should persuade many to coincide (No," his motion, not because he differed in the "no!). All men of understanding and general principle (in which all agreed) "judgment, he believed, would vote on his" that the Princess of Wales had been most "side of the question, if, indeed, it were" scandalously ill-treated, but because he "pressed to a vote, but he entreated Mr." did not think that the mode now suggest"Alderman Wood to withdraw his motion. " ed would accelerate redress and promole

"réconciliation. Why should the Livery" ratory of the complete acquittal of the "interfere, when the whole nation was "Princess of Wales, which would obviate "united in one sentiment, that her Royal" the most material objections. (No, no, "Highness was as innocent as her accusers "the Address). He was sorry that his 66 were guilty. He did not desire the "well-weighed opinions were in opposition "Livery to submit to his opinions, if they" to the general sentiment, so hastily adoptthought their own better, but all he "ed; but he hoped that the Livery would "desired was that his individual senti-" consider the necessity of preserving its "ments should be heard, because he was "character for purity and wisdom. He "convinced from his heart that the Meet- "concluded by adverting to the shameful "ing was defeating its own purpose, (No, "suppression of the able defence of Mr. "no: loud clamours). Probably his opi-" Perceval, and by expressing his wish, "nion might be good for nothing, in com- "that the thanks of the Hall should be parison with that of many gentlemen who" given to Mr. Whitbread, for his able and "now expressed their disapprobation. At" manly conduct.

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"the same time that he disapproved of the "MR. ALDERMAN ATKINS came "original motion, his objection to the "forward, but with difficulty obtained a "amendment of Sir W. Curtis was equally" partial hearing. He repelled, with great strong, because if the Hall were dissolv- warmth, Mr. Waithman's accusation of

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tempt-in England we were more sen"sible of their value, and he hoped that the Livery would shew that they were not less gallant than the rest of the male

ed, and the question thereby incidentally" inconsistency, declaring that he had act"negatived, the proceeding would imply" ed conscientiously, and that he should an undeserved censure on the Princess of" still dare to do his duty, and to avow it "Wales, (Hear, hear!). How then was "in all places, and at all times. "the Livery to extricate itself from the di- "MR. WADDINGTON called upon To dissolve the Hall would be" every man to do his duty, except such as "a most extraordinary and unwarrantable" were in possession or expectation of the step, especially when the Hon. Bart. had" loaves and fishes-to such the call would "himself confessed that the question affect-" be ineffectual. In Africa, Turkey, and "ed even the stability of the monarchy." India, women were treated with con"If the fact were so, it was the duty of the "city to interpose. The fact was so-the question did shake the throne itself; but "the true point to be decided was, in what" Ger"mode was the Livery to interfere? 66 tainly not in any way that would make "MR. ALDERMAN WOOD shortly "the breach wider, when the object was" replied, explaining, that he meant the "reconciliation and harmony. He lament-"Address to be presented by the whole "ed, if so much danger was apprehended" Livery at Kensington Palace, in the same "from interference, that the illustrious" way as they had waited upon Sir F. Burpersons concerned had not reflected upon "dett, at the Tower. He refused to alter' "the greater danger of submitting such" his motion, to make it conformable to the 66 matters to public observation. The wor- "wishes of those with whom he usually thy Alderman (Atkins), who had cen"acted. "sured the interposition of the Livery at

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"MR. ROWCROFT endeavoured in "all so strongly, should have been consist-" vain to address the impatient Livery-he

ent in his conduct, and have blamed with" could only utter one sentence, that the

equal severity interference of another" real sentiment of the corporation was exkind, by a Royal Duke, who had most "pressed by the number of absentees. "unconstitutionally intermeddled to de

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The question was then put upon the

stroy the freedom of election in a certain" Amendment, that the Hall be dissolved, "borough, (applause). How then did he "which was negatived by a large majo"dare to object to that interference, which rity. "he had elsewhere approved? He (Mr. "The impatience of the Meeting was 66 W.) did not think that the present pronow so much increased, that Mr. Taddy "ceeding would facilitate parliamentary and Mr. Waithman vainly attempted to "reform; and as there existed no prece-" address them. The Address was loudly "dent of an Address, even to the Queen," called for, and it was accordingly read by "he hoped that the worthy Alderman" the Crier; after which the question was "would be persuaded to alter his motion" put upon it, and it was carried with very for an Address into a Resolution, decla- "few opponents. It was also agreed that