to the King, on the conduct of the Duke of York, and the minority of 137, who supported the amendment proposed by Sir T. Turton, Bart. 6th. That the thanks of this meetings be also given to the minority on the motion of H. Bankes, Esq. and also to the minority who opposed the motion of the right hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and it is their unanimous opinion, that, after the concurring declaration of so many independent representatives of the people, whoever shall, at any future time, advise his Majesty to reinstate his royal highness the Duke of York in the situation of commanderin-chief, will, by such advice, prove himself an enemy to his country. 7th. That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the discoveries made by this inquiry, as well as the attention which has been paid in the house of commons to the investigation of the charges brought in this particular instance, ought to animate the people to prosecute Inquiry and REFORM in all the departments of the state; and they recommend to every county, city, and borough of the united kingdom, in which the present state of the elective franchise will admit it, to follow the example which it has been the duty and pride of the city of Westminster to set them, of returning, free of expence, honest and independent representa tives, who shall have no interest but that of restoring what is obviously wanted-integrity and economy, in the receipt and expenditure of the public money, and of preserving inviolate the rights and privileges of the people. A. MORRIS, High Bailiff. It was then also unanimously resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to Arthur Morris, Esq. high bailiff, for the promptness with which he called this meeting, and for his able and impartial conduct in the chair. CITY OF GLOCESTER, AND, COUNTY OF THE SAME CITY. At a Common Council House, held at the Tolsey, in the said city, on Wednesday, the 29th day of March, in the forty-ninth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and in the year of our Lord, 1809: RESOLVED That the freedom of the said city, accompanied with the thanks of this corporation, be given to G. L. Wardle, Esq, for his manly and patriotic exertions in instituting and prosecuting an inquiry into the abuses relative to military promotions, notwithstanding the vatious and formidable obstacles which he had to encounter, in bringing forward and conducting so important an inquiry. Resolved-That the grant of the freedom of the same city, together with such vote of thanks, be communicated by the deputy town clerk, to Colonel Wardle, assigning the reason for which the above honour has been conferred upon him. Resolved-That the thanks of this house be given to Henry Howard, and Robert Morris, Esqrs. repre sentatives of this city, for their bonourable support of Colonel Wardle in parliament. Resolved--That the above resolu. tions be inserted in two Morning and two Evening London papers, and also in the Glocester Journal and Glocester Herald. R. P. WILTON, Dep. Town Clerk. TOWN OF CALNE. At a Meeting of the Guild, Stewards, Burgesses, and Inhabitants of the Borough and Town of Calne, convened for the purpose of thanking Colonel Wardle for his patriotic conduct in parlament, the following Address being proposed and seconded, was unanimously carried, and signed by all present. "To G. L. Wardle, Esq. M. P. the mover of the charges in the house of Commons, against his royal highness the Duke of York:-We, the Guild, Stewards, Burgesses, and Inhabitants of the town and borough of Calne, assembled, feel it our du ty, as members of a free country, to express our sense of your public conduct. We admire alike your courage and manliness, in standing forward, singly and unaided, and laying your charges" in a tangible "shape" before the representatives of the people; your firmness and judgment in supporting them; and your moderation, when truth had silenced the warnings of responsibility, and threats of infamy, from ministerial arrogance. We consider that no efforts of genius nor any feats of heroism can, at this time, render the country such essential service as the honest exertions of independent members of parliament, to expose and exterminate corruption.-And we must unfeignedly give you our cordial, sincere, and grateful thanks. -We love our King and constitution, and complain of no sacrifices that we are called upon to make for their security and support; but we cannot be insensible that too much of our treasure is diverted from the proper channels of national benefit, and lavished on party adherents and sleeping placemen. We however confidently trust, that through the course of your political career, so vigorously and usefully begun, you will maintain your independence, and suffer no attachment to party to warp you from the people's cause." Guildhall, Calne, March 30. TOWN AND BOROUGH OF DEAL. At a Common Assembly of the Deputy, Mayor, Jurats, and Commonalty of the Town and Borough of Deal, in the County of Kent, holden at the Guildhall there, the 30th of March, 1809, it was Resolved, That the thanks of this court be voted to G. L. Wardle, Esq. M. P. for the very manly, spirited, and patriotic manner in which he has called the attention of the house of commons to the conduct of the commander in chief. That the thanks of this court be voted to William Honywood, Esq. one of the representatives in parlia ment for this county, and likewise to Mr. Whitbread, Lord Folkstone, and Sir F. Burdett, and the several other members of the house of commons who gave Mr. Wardle their assistance and support. That this court beg to declare their firm attachment to their sovereign and to the constitution, but at the same time they cannot forbear to express that, as long as public abuses exist, the country can never expect to enjoy the beneficial and happy effect of that constitution, which is the pride of Englishmen and the admiration of the world. This court, therefore, humbly hopes that the honourable house of commons will persevere in the investigation and reform of such abuses till corruption, which has been the downfall of other states, is fully rooted out, and the people may have the satisfaction of knowing and feeling that the sacrifices they make are for the public good, and not perverted to base or improper purposes. That these resolutions be signed by the town clerk, and copies sent to G. L. Wardle, Esq. and William Honywood, Esq. M. P. and that the resolutions be inserted in the Sun and Morning Chronicle, and in the County newspapers. Resolved-That the thanks of this meeting be given to James Sharp, Esq. deputy mayor, for his readiness in calling this assembly (in the absence of the mayor, who is from home) and for his impartial conduct in the chair. SAMPSON, Town Clerk. CITY OF LONDON. FLOWER, MAYOR. In a Meeting or Assembly of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Liverymen, of the several companies of , the city of London, in common hall assembled, at the Guildhall of the said city, on Saturday, the 1st. day of April, 1809. RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, 1. That it has long been matter of notoriety, and has lately been proved, beyond the possibility of doubt, that abuses of a most corrupt nature and ruinous tendency have existed, and still exist in various branches of the administration of public affairs. 2. Resolved Unanimously-That to detect such abuses, and expose to detestation those men who have wickedly connived at or participated in them, requires no small degree of virtue, independence and patriotism, all which have been eminently displayed by G. L. Wardle, Esq. in in stituting and conducting the late in quiry into the conduct of his royal highness the Duke of York. 3. Resolved Unanimously-That the said G. L.Wardle, Esq. is therefore entitled to the thanks and gratitude of this common hall, for his persevering and independent efforts, which have already produced beneficial effects, and are likely to lead to still more advantageous results; and they express their confi dence that having so manfully and ably commenced this arduous task, no difficulty or danger will damp his ardour or impede his progress in a cause so honourable to himself and so essential to the best interests of his country. 4. Resolved Unanimously-That upon the same principles, and for the same reasons, they do highly approve of the conduct of Sir F. Burdett, Bart. (the seconder) Lord Viscount Folkestone, S. Whitbread, Esq. Sir S. Romilly, Knight, General Fergusson, and the rest of the 125 ho nest and independent members, who supported Mr. Wardle's proposition on the 15th. of March, 1809, and trust that, unmfluenced by party or feelings of interest, they will support every measure calculated to remove abuses and root out corruption. 5. Resolved Unanimously-That these abuses form only a part of d wicked and corrupt system, which has been long acted upon, and no permament good can arise from the late investigation, unless followed up by a general reformation of public abuses in every department of the state. 6. Resolved Unanimously-That the corporation of London did, in petitions unanimously agreed to, and presented to both houses of parlia ment, during the last sessions, state, "That their burthens had been considerably augmented by gross abuses in the management and expenditure of the public money, by a profusion of sinecure places and pensions, which have not only added to the sufferings of the people, but created a pernicious influence, corrupting and undermining the free principles of the British constitution." 7. Resolved Unanimously-That no measures calculated to remove these oppressive and alarming evils have yet been adopted, nor can any rational expectation be formed that such measures will be adopted, while the management of the public affairs is in the hands of persons who are themselves the greatest pensioners and reversionists in the kingdom! 8. Resolved Unanimously-That it has since appeared, by the report of the committee of the house of commons, that 78 members of that house are in the receipt of 178,9841. per annum, out of the public money, who, with their relations, and the naval and military officers in that house, must give a most preponderating and dangerous influence to a minister of the crown. 9. Resolved Unanimously-That if any doubt could remain as to the baneful effect of such influence, it VOL. V.] Addresses, Resolutions &c.-London-Durham. has been sufficiently exemplified by the rejection of Mr. Wardle's late proposition in parliament, against the most conclusive evidence, and unequivocal sense of the country; and where it appeared that all his Majesty's ministers-all the placemen-and all the pensioners, then present (stated to be 82 in number) voted against the said proposition; while, of course, in the minority of 125, not one of the ministers-not one placeman-not one pensionerand only one naval and one military commander was to be found. 10. Resolved Unanimously. That other governments have crumbled into ruin other states have been subverted, and their ancient and venerable institutions overthrown, by the folly, profligacy, and vices of their rulers; and, in the opinion of this common hall, unless this overwhelming tide of corruption is resisted by temperate and timely reformation, it must inevitably lead to the ruin and subjugation of this country. 11. Resolved Unanimously.--That it will be highly expedient for the Livery of London, some time during the present session, to meet for the purpose of laying a faithful statement of their grievances before parliament, and pray for redress of the same. 12. Resolved Unanimously-That the thanks of this common ball be given to Alderman Combe, one of the representatives of this city in parliament, for the support he gave to Mr Wardle's motion, and for his uniform independence and incorruptibility in parliament. 13. Resolved-That Sir William Curtis, bart. Sir C. Price, bart. and James Shaw, Esq. three of the representatives for this city in parliament have, by their recent conduct therein, shewn, a contempt and disregard for the opinions and interests of their constituents, and a base subserviency to the will of VOL. V. 445 ministers; and are, therefore un- 14. Resolved. That the lord mayor 15. Resolved.-That the thanks of this common hall be given to Robert Waithman, Esq. for his manly conduct in the present instance, and his unremitting zeal upon all occastons where the interests of his fellow-citizens are in question. 16. Resolved Unanimously. That the foregoing resolutions be signed by the town clerk, and inserted in all the morning and evening papers. WOODTHORPE. CITY OF DURHAM. At a Meeting of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonality of the said City, holden at the Guildhall of the said City, April 5, 1809. RESOLVED. That this meeting having taken into consideration the patriotic and meritorious exertions of G. L. Wardle, Esq. M. P. in originating and steadily supporting, in the honourable house of commons, the recent investigation of the conduct of his royal highness, the late commander in chief, do offer him their most sincere thanks; and in testimony of the grateful sense which this meeting feel of the spirited, firm, and upright manner, in which, amidst great discouragements, he instituted, conducted, and persevered in the inquiry. That the common seal of this ancient and loyal city be affixed to this resolution; and that the same be forthwith transmitted by the mayor to Colonel Wardle. 3. M And this meeting having observed, with high approbation, the independent efforts of those members of the house of commons who assisted Col. Wardle in the progress of the investigation, and who, on its termination, voted in favour of the address moved by him, or of the amendments proposed by H. Bankes, Esq. and Sir T.Turton, Bart, and also of those who divided against the motion of the right hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon that occasion: And this meeting being of opinion, that efforts, at once honest and constitutional, and so well directed to promote the public welfare, should be rewarded with and should receive public support: Resolved, therefore, that the grateful thanks of this meeting be, and they are hereby given to all those members of the house of commons who voted or divided in the minority upon the questions above adverted to. That the thanks of this meeting be given to Mr. Mayor for having convened, and for his conduct at the meeting. By order, WILKINSON, Town Clerk. BOROUGH OF CARMARTHEN. At a Meeting of the Mayor, Burgesses, and respectable. inhabitants of the said borough, held at the Guildhall, in the said borough, on the 5th of April, 1809, convened in pursuance of a requisition delivered to the Mayor of the said Corporation for a Common Hall, to consider of the propriety of addressing a vote of thanks to Col. WARDLE, for his conduct in Parliament on a late occasion:-WILLIAM MORGAN, Esq. Deputy Mayor, in the Chair: It was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, That conscious of the blessings we derive from the constitution under which we live, and anxious to perpetuate them pure and unsullied, we cannot but look on every man who has courage and manliness to oppose the inroad of corrup tion, and stem the torrent of vice, by which its excellencies are perverted, and even its vitality endan gered, as the best friend to the throne, and the truest friend to his country. Impressed with this conviction, we cannot but be sensible of the services rendered by Col. Wardle, who, with unexampled intrepidity and most persevering industry, so eminently, and so honourably displayed on a late occa sion in parliament, instituted and prosecuted inquiries into abuses tending to the degradation of the army, and subversive of its dearest interests; which, in opposition to every discouragement and difficulty, he made manifest to the nation, and for which he is justly entitled to the approbation and acknowledgments of every well-wisher to his King and his country. We, therefore, participating in the general sentiment of gratitude such patriotism merits, and in some degree also actuated by a laudable, though national feeling of pride and exultation, that the object of this address derives his origin from Cambrian blood, beg leave to tender to G. L. Wardle, Esq. our grateful acknowledgements, for the services done to his country: and while we thus cordially returni him our thanks, we cannot but regret that, restricted as we are by the constitution of our charter, we are prevented from gratifying our warmest wishes in presenting to so honourable and independent a character the freedom of our ancient borough. Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting, as well as of the whole country are justly due to Sir F. Burdett, Bart. Lord Folkestone, S. Whitbread, Esq. Sir S. Romilly, Knt. Gen. Ferguson, and the rest of the glorious minority, who so ably supported Col. Wardle through his arduous undertakings in the late in vestigation. |