its purity; and who are sufficiently numerous to give weight to their wishes. Their views appear to be so moderate, and their resolutions, which follow, are framed so temperately, that it is to be hoped their example may be universally followed:-

Resolved unanimously, That it is the opinion of this meeting that the late investigation, by the Honourable House of Commons, into the conduct of the late Commander-in-chief, is a matter of infinite importance to this country, inasmuch as it has furnished a strong incitement to that Honourable House to exert themselves to defend the throne and the people from the destructive effects of corruption in every department of the state.

That the thanks of this meeting be given to Gwyllim Lloyd Wardle, Esq. for his courage, candour, and perseverance, in conducting the said investigation.

That this meeting have seen with much satisfaction the steps taken by the wisdom of parliament for the suppression of any abuses that may exist in the state, and hope and trust they will continue their exertions until the same shall be effectually reformed.

JOHN HEATHCOTE, Sheriff.

BEDFORD.

On Monday, April 3, a Common Hall was convened by the Mayor of Bedford, in compliance with a requisition, signed by Mr. Belsham (the historian), Mr. Green, Dr. Yeats, Alderman Cooke, Pleasant, Kidman, Barnard, &c. when the thanks of the Corporation, together with the Freedom of the Town, were voted to G. L. Wardle, Esq. "for the purity of the motives which induced him to lay before the House of Commons his late statement of the Duke of York's misconduct, in disposing of the patronage of the army; and for the undaunted zeal, consummate ability, and unwearied perseverance, with which he pursued an investigation so worthy of an independent Member of Parliament, and so deeply interesting to every Briton." Thanks were also voted to Mr. Whitbread and Mr. Lee Antonie, Members for the town, for having supported Mr. Wardle. The resolutions were unanimously agreed to; indeed, there was not a shadow of opposition evinced by any individual at the meeting.

OXFORD.

The freemen of Oxford experienced considerable opposition to their wishes, to distinguish Mr.

Wardle for his parliamentary conduct. This first opposition was manifested in a Court of Common Council, held early in April, when Mr. Adams moved for a vote of thanks to Mr. Wardle, for his recent public conduct. This was resisted by Mr. W. Slatter, who thought that a fever had been created in the public mind, which might lead to consequences of a very serious kind. He admitted that Mr. Wardle had discharged his duty in an honourable manner, but feared that the motion might be made a rallying point for disaffected and bad men. A severe lesson had been read to the Duke of York, and he trusted the government would learn a useful lesson, before it was too late, and not suffer abuses to exist which must naturally tend to weaken the energies of the nation, and, in the end, alienate the minds of the people from the love of their country. The king was become an old man, who had long reigned beneficially for his people, and he would not be willing to wound his feelings unnecessarily. No reply being made to these suggestions, the motion was withdrawn.

At length a meeting of the freemen of Oxford was held, on Thursday, April 27, at the Blue Boar Inn, in that city, after a previous refusal on the part of the Mayor to convene a Common Hall, to consider of the best measures to be adopted for evincing their gratitude to Mr. Wardle, and

to express their regard for the disinterestedness of his conduct on the late occasion, and to encourage him to continue to proceed in his meritorious career. After the resolutions had been put by the chairman, Mr. Munday, and a vote of censure passed on the Mayor and Representatives of the city of Oxford, the most general acclamations were made by the Freemen present.

NORTHAMPTON, APRIL 17, 1809.

The Mayor having declined to accede to a Requisition, signed by seventeen respectable Householders, to call a Meeting of the Inhabitants of this town, to take into consideration the propriety of thanking Gwyllim Lloyd Wardle, Esq. M.P. for his recent patriotic exertions in Parliament, respecting the conduct of the late Commander-inchief; a numerous and respectable meeting of the Inhabitants was this day held, pursuant to public advertisement, at the Angel Inn, when, for want of room, the company adjourned to the yard, and the following resolutions were then proposed and agreed to, viz;

1st. That the sincere and cordial thanks of this meeting be given to Gwyllim Lloyd Wardle, Esq. M.P. for Oakhampton, in the County of Devon, for his manly, independent, and patriotic exer

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tions, in instituting and conducting the charges against the late Commander-in-chief.

2d. To Sir Francis Burdett, Bart. for having seconded the motion of Mr. Wardle.

Sd. To Lord Viscount Althorp, one of the representatives of this county, for his public-spirited conduct, during the late investigation; and particularly for the constitutional speech with which he prefaced his amendment to Mr. Bragge Bathurst's motion.

4th. To the 125 independent Members who divided in favour of Mr. Wardle's motion, for an Address to the King, on the subject of the late Inquiry.

5th. (with only six dissentients), That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the gross and scandalous abuses that have been recently 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.

MICHAEL SMITH, Chairman.

CHIPPING WYCOMBE, BUCKS.

A Court of Common Council, held at the Guildhall of this Borough, April 22d, 1809, Samuel Anning, Esq. Mayor: