turned out of that House?-It would be a great shame if he was! Whilst such things as these are going on in that House, no Reform can be expected to take place there-all the inquiries and commissions that are appointed are but another way of giving salaries. We never see any punishment inflicted on peculators, whose plundering transactions are brought to light, so that the only advantage we enjoy from those inquiries and commissions is, that of paying the wages of the commissioners.

"Once more I repeat, there is no hope of any change on these important matters, without that reformation which shall give to the people real representatives, and no longer suffer the nominal representation of ministers. I am sure that His Majesty wishes us success in this, for it is most particularly his interest to oppose that host of borough-mongers, who hold him in subjection. His Majesty is compelled to dispose of the favours of the Crown, as the borough-mongers choose to compel him; however they may appear to act in the House of Commons with more or less suavity, as occasion may require, all their votes, the votes of the borough-mongers, are bought and sold; that is the power which we must all dread.

"There is another subject of very high importance, and that is, the large number of foreign

troops now in the pay of Government, while the annual expence of the army amounts to no less a sum than Twenty Millions of money!—of that sum, if I am correctly informed, Five Millions go to the maintenance of the foreign part of our army. I have at this moment in my pocket the copy of a General Order, by which a foreigner born, a German, lately come into the country, is appointed the commander of the Eastern district of England. Is there a nobleman with English blood in his veins who can see this, and not feel indignant? and if there be that indignation felt, we surely can and ought to express ourselves properly on such an occasion. Supposing now that these troops are wanted, have we not British subjects capable or willing to defend their country?— If, however, the necessity of having foreigners in our service shall be admitted, they ought to take their chance in the ordinary routine of service; but that is not the case-they have made their bargain never to be sent out of Europe, whereby they are prevented from going to the West-Indies, while the soldiers of England are exclusively exposed to the mortality of that deadly climate. While our soldiers are sent to Spain, to fight the battles. of Ferdinand the Seventh and the monks, and exposed to sufferings such as they underwent in their retreat to Corunna, the Germans are snug in the heart of England, and

several German officers have been appointed to offices. Now the act of Settlement, which placed the crown on His Majesty's head, declares, that no foreigner shall hold a place under the Crown: in defiance of which solemn Act, now continuing in full and undiminished force, a German officer is appointed to the command of a military district of England. These are some of the observations which I have to submit to you. How weighty our burdens are you all know and feel; and while ministers decry all scrutiny into their conducts, as they did two nights ago, when they rejected Lord Folkstone's motion, they say, "it is an insult to suspect us." Don't they make us come before the commissioners, and render an account of the last farthing of our income? And yet there are found men who think it wrong to suspect them, at the very same time that by that very act they suspect us so much, as to think it necessary to employ a host of spies and informers to prevent our infringing the regulation of that act. There has been proposed to me a vote of censure against two members of this county; but painful as it may be to differ from that recommendation, I think we should be injuring the cause by its adoption. Sir Henry Mildmay has shewn himself worthy of the confidence of the County, and Admiral Markham has acted in the same manner. I therefore think we had better return our thanks to those gentlemen

in a pointed manner, and simply observe, that two other members are not on the honourable list. There are also farther reasons which I will state for my opinion: On a former occasion I observed, that I thought it beneath any man to give his vote for any such persons. Under such a system they are no more representatives of this county than the deer in the new forest. No, I will tell you who they are the representatives of-of the people in the Dock-yards, the Customhouses, the Barracks, where the German troops are lodged, and others in the pay of Government, and there let them pass resolutions if they please, but don't let us honour them by introducing their names in a specific resolution. I propose to include the whole amendment in one resolution," because when many resolutions are proposed, the mode of decision is not always easy to be understood, and particularly by an audience that must be wearied by several hours of attention. But before either the Amendment or the Resolution is put to the vote, I request of the High Sheriff that he will desire the military, of whom I see many present, to withdraw, not out of disrespect to that honourable profession, against which I beg to disclaim the remotest design to insinuate any thing improper, but because it certainly cannot be said that either officers or soldiers are inhabitants of Hampshire."

In consequence of adopting Mr. Cobbett's amendment, the following were among the most prominent of the resolutions finally adopted by the meeting, and were signed by John Blackburne, Sheriff, who was publicly thanked for his conduct; with Lord Folkstone, Sir Francis Burdett, &c. &c.

That the thanks of this Meeting be given to Gwyllim Lloyd Wardle, Esq. for having instituted the recent inquiry in the House of Commons, relative to the conduct of His Royal Highness the Duke of York; for having, unconnected with, and supported by, any faction or party, prosecuted that laudable undertaking with talent and zeal, temper and perseverance, rarely to be met with; and especially for having had the resolution thus to discharge his duty, in defiance of the threats of the King's servants, and in spite of the prejudices endeavoured to be excited against his charges, through the false and hypocritical pretence that they proceeded from a Jacobin conspiracy; a pretence which, for many years past, has been the best ally of corruption, and through the means of which pretence, artful and wicked men have but too long stifled the voice of truth, have abused the ear, and drained the purses of this unsuspecting and loyal nation.

That, in the course of the above-named Inquiry, acts of meanness, profligacy, and corruption, un