that it could not be put in practice, on account of the necessary supplies, which come in but very slowly. It is to be mentioned in the different divisions, we have elected J. Baxter (by ballot) as chairman of the committee, for the remainder of the quarter; we have also appointed a committee of constitution, separate from the committee of delegates. One member is chose from each division, to meet on this night for the first time, and to be totally unconnected with the committee of delegates. We still increase in numbers, and the address to the king to put an end to the war is ordered to be advertised to receive signatures, in the Courier, Chronicle, Eyre's Sunday Gazette, afterwards by hand-bills, &c. We have opened a correspondence with a new society at Bristol. I have to inform you of the wish of the society, that you would favour them with the number of delegates in the Convention, and the number from England also, and how the civil and military power relishes your meeting, and that you would send such a report from the Convention, as might appear in Send me an the newspapers in London. Edinburgh Gazetteer, when there is any thing in it of importance; I would have sent you a Courier, but they inform me they have sent several to the Coffee-houses and Taverns in Edinburgh, for that reason I thought it unnecessary. I hope to have more time to write to you more fully next time,-as sir James Murray says; the post is just going off. No more at present from "THO. HARDY, secretary." Clerk of Arraigns.-These are " Articles of Instruction, given to citizen Joseph Gerrald, delegate from the London Corresponding Society, to the ensuing Convention in Edinburgh, for the purpose of obtaining a thorough parliamentary reform, dated, 'General Meeting, 24th October, 1793." This paper of instructions is signed by Richard Hodgson, chairman, Thomas Hardy, secretary. 1st, "He shall on no account depart from the original object and principles of the society, namely, the obtaining Annual parliaments, and Universal Suffrage, by rational and lawful means. 2d, "He is directed to support the opinion, that representatives in parliament ought to be paid by their constituents. 3d, "That the election of sheriffs ought to be restored to the people. 4th, "That juries ought to be chosen by lot. 5th, "That active means ought to be used to make every man acquainted with the rights and duties of a juryman. 6th, "That the liberty of the press must at all events be supported; and that the publication of political truths can never be criminal. 7th, "That it is the duty of the people to resist any act of parliament repugnant to the original principles of the constitution, as would be every attempt to prohibit associations for the purpose of reform. 8th, "That the society, considering all party names and distinctions as hostile to the general welfare, do absolutely restrict their delegate from assuming, or accepting any thing of that nature. 9th," That this society further require, that the delegate shall be punctual and frequent in his correspondence with the Society. "RD. HODGSON, chairman. "THOS. HARDY, secretary." Certificate, directed to William Skirving. Clerk of Arraigns.-This is a paper indorsed, "At a general meeting of the London Corresponding Society, held at Citizen Briellat's Hackney Road, 24th October, 1793. "This is to certify, that Joseph Gerrald was this day duly elected a delegate to represent this society at the ensuing convention to be held at Edinburgh, for the purpose of obtaining a thorough reform in the parliamentary representation of Great Britain. "RICHD. HODGSON, chairman. THOS. HARDY, secretary." Clerk of Arraigns.-This is a directed paper the other. [Not read.] to Citizen Margarot. It is the same paper as Lord Advocate.-The article proved is this -"Convention Hall, 28th November, 1793, 9th day's sitting." "A. Scott gave in the report of finance, respecting the secretary's accounts, and the same were ordered to be engrossed. "The committee of finance begged that they might be allowed to sit again, which was agreed to, and they were ordered to meet on Saturday at 10 o'clock, and the Edinburgh committee of finance appointed to attend them. "A motion presented by George Ross, for the Committee of Union to give in their report, was read, and it was answered they would do so, as the business was finished. "A letter from the societies in Paisley was read, where they expressed their approbation of the acts of the convention, and begged that citizen Skirving should act for them as their delegate, which was granted accordingly. Lord Advocate.-Read this. In [Reads.] "Citizen Sinclair read the amendments upon citizen Callender's motion, as agreed upon by the committee, and it was agreed, upon the motion of citizenthat the house should resolve itself into a committee for its mature consideration. the course of the consideration, citizen Brown gave a history of the Habeas Corpus act; after an excellent discussion of the question, pertinent remarks and amendments, the convention was resumed, and the whole, as amended, being read over, the members stood upon their feet, and solemnly and unanimously passed the resolutions as follows." [Here a page is left blank.] See Briellat's Trial for seditious words, anté, Vol. 22, p. 909. avowed their intention of introducing a mo. tion for the repeal of one of them, or in case of an invasion, or the admission of any foreign troops whatsoever into Great Britain, or Ireland,-all, or any of these, shall be a signal to the several delegates, to repair to such place as the convention shall appoint; and seven members shall have power to declare the convention permanent. "Resolved, that the delegates to any convention meeting under any of these calamitous circumstances, shall immediately repair to the place of sitting, and there continue until the number be twenty-one, and then proceed to business. Then it goes on in the same hand-writing, "Citizen Gerrald, in an energetic, and animated address, expressed his happiness at the motion passed, and exposed the act of the Irish parliament, called a convention bill. "And citizen Brown followed him in a manly speech, and proved the influence of the executive government over the parliament. "Citizen Margarot read and proposed the following motion; viz. that a secret committee of three and the secretary, be appointed, to determine the place where such Convention of Emergency shall meet that such place shall remain a secret with them, and with the secretary of this convention; and that each delegate shall, at the breaking up of the present session, be intrusted with a sealed letter, containing the name of the place of meeting. This letter shall be delivered unopened, to his constituents, the receipt of which shall be acknowledged by a letter to the secretary, preserved in the same state, until the period shall arrive, at which it shall be deemed necessary for the delegate to set off. This motion was seconded by citizen Moffat, and the same was passed unanimously. "The following citizens were nominated with the secretary, a secret committee on this "A motion of David Downie, to fine those business; viz. Margarot, Jo. Clerk, and members who did not attend their sections. Browne, and they were requested to devise "The order of the day was called for. the best possible means of conveying this in- "A motion for drawing out a scroll of a petimation to those societies whose views were tition to parliament, which being read, the the same with ours, but may not have dele-order of the day was moved upon it." gates at this convention." "The convention doth therefore resolve, that each delegate, immediately on his return home, do convene his constituents, and explain to them the necessity of electing a delegate, or delegates, and of establishing a fund without delay against any of these emergencies for his or their expenses, and that they do instruct the said delegate, or delegates, to hold themselves ready to depart, at an hour's warning." Paper of the 11th day's sitting read, dated 30th November, 1793. Paper of the 12th sitting read, dated, Clerk of Arraigns.-This is a paper indors-" Monday, 2d December, 1793, first year ed, Mr. Sinclair's Amendment of Mr. Callen- British Convention. der's Motion. "That the convention, considering the calamitous consequences of anyact of the legislature which may tend to deprive the whole, or any part of the people of their undoubted right to meet, either by themselves, or by delegation, to discuss any matter relative to their common interest, whether of a public or private nature, and holding the same to be totally inconsistent with the first principles and safety of society, and also subversive of our known and acknowledged constitutional liberties, do hereby declare, before God and the world, that we shall follow the wholesome example of former times, by paying no regard to any act, which shall militate against the constitution of our country, and shall continue to assemble, and consider of the best means by which we can accomplish a real representation of the people, and annual election until compelled to desist by superior force. "And we further resolve, that the first notice given for the introduction of a Convention bill, or any bill of a similar tendency to that passed in Ireland since the last session of their parliament; the suspension of the Habeas Corpus act, or the act for preventing wrongous imprisonment in North Britain, and against undue delays in trial, which will render all the laws for the protection of our lives and our liberties nugatory, and as some have "Citizen John Clark, mason, in the chair,and citizens Downie and Romanes, assistants at the table.. "Read the minutes of the last sitting. "Upon its being moved, that citizen Smith's motion for petitioning parliament be discussed immediately, it was agreed, that citizen Smith should withdraw it, and present another Clerk of Arraigns.-This is the hand-writing of Aitcheson. Citizens Alexander Scott, and A. Callendar moved, that the British Convention take under consideration a resolution passed at the last meeting of the Scots Convention to petition the Commons House of parliament for a parliamentary reform. Citizens James Smith, and Peter Wood, moved, that this Convention take under con sideration, whether, after the contemptible manner in which the late petitions for parliamentary reform were treated, they shall again petition for Reform, or at what period they should recommend the same to their constituents. Lord Advocate.-Now read the copy of the resolutions that Taylor proved. Clerk of Arraigns.-These are the general resolutions made at the general meeting of the London Corresponding Society, held at the Globe tavern, Fleet Street, on Monday 20th January, 1794, citizen John Martin in the chair. The following address to the people of Great Britain and Ireland, was read and agreed to. "Citizens,-We find the nation involved in a war, by which, in the course of one campaign, immense numbers of our countrymen have been slaughtered, a vast expense has been incurred: our trade, commerce, and manufactures are almost destroyed, and many of our manufacturers and artists are ruined, and their families starving. "To add to our affliction, we have reason to expect, that other taxes will soon be added to the intolerable load of imposts and impositions, with which we are already overwhelmed, for the purpose of defraying the expenses which have been incurred in a fruitless crusade, to re-establish the odious despotism of France. "When we contemplate the principles of this war, we confess ourselves to be unable to approve of it, as a measure either of justice or discretion; and, if we are to form our calculation of the result, from what has already passed, we can only look forward to defeat, and the eternal disgrace of the British name. "While we are thus engaged in an expensive and ruinous foreign war, our state at home is not less deplorable. "We are every day told by those persons who are interested in supporting the corruption list, and an innumerable host of sinecure placemen, that the constitution of England is the perfection of human wisdom; that our laws (we should rather say their laws) are the perfection of justice, and that their administration of those laws is so impartial, and so ready, as to afford an equal remedy both to the rich, and to the poor, by means of which we are said to be placed in a state of absolute freedom; and that our rights, and liberties, are so well secured to us, as to render all invasion of them impossible. "When we ask how we enjoy these transcendent privileges we are referred to Magna Charta, and the Bill of Rights; and the glorious Revolution, in the year 1688, is held out to us as the bulwark of British liberty. "Citizens, shall be likewise amerced, saving to him his wainage; and none of the said amerciaments shall be assessed, but by the oath of honest and lawful men of the vicinage. "But by the usurped power of the judges in assessing fines (and what fines!!) in the cases of misdemeanor, this glorious right of the subject, of having these fines assessed by the jury, (the only possible protection from slavery, and the vilest oppression) is unjustly, and infamously ravished from us." "The provision of the 29th chap. runs thus: "No freeman shall be taken or imprisoned or be disseised of his freehold or liberties, or free customs, or be out-lawed, or exiled, or any otherwise destroyed; nor we will not pass upon him, nor condemn him, but by the lawful judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land; we will sell to no man, we will not deny or defer to any man, either justice or right. "The various methods now in constant practice, by which the benefits of this provision are totally defeated, and destroyed, might induce us to suppose that the great charter has been repealed, if we did not assuredly know it is the fundamental basis of our constitution, which even the real representatives of the people (much less the miserable nominees of Helstone and old Sarum) have not the right, nor (as we trust it will be found by experience) the power to repeal; yet what do we find in practice? unconstitutional and illegal informations, ex-officio; that is, the arbitrary will of the king's attorney general, usurping the office of the accusing jury, and the interested oath of a vile common informer, with the judgment of as vile a common trading or pensioned justice, substituted in the room of our birth-right, and impartial trial by our country. "Add to this, that the exorbitant expense of judicial proceedings, the novel practice of arbitrarily and repeatedly annulling the verdicts of juries, and the dilatory practice of the courts, most openly and shamefully contradict the clause which forbids the denial, the delay, and the sale of justice. "A man accused of felony (for which, by the common law of England, his life and goods are forfeited) may be bailed, on finding two securities for 40l. each, but upon a charge of misdemeanor, by words only, bail to the amount of 1,000ĺ, has been demanded. "Upon conviction also for such misdemeanor, enormous fines, long and cruel imprisonments, unknown to our ancient laws, and unsanctioned by any new statutes, have of late (and but of late) been too frequently, and too oppressively inflicted, and all this, although by this Bill of Rights it is declared that excessive bail shall not be demanded, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. "If we look to Ireland, we find that acknowledged privilege of the people, to meet for the support and protection of their rights and liberties, is attempted by terror to be taken away, by a late infamous act of parliament, whilst titles of honour-no, but of dishonour are lavished, and new sources of corruption opened, to gratify the greedy prostitution of those who are the instruments of this oppression. "In Scotland, the wicked hand of power has been impudently exerted without even the wretched formality of an act of parliament. Magistrates have forcibly intruded into the peaceful and lawful meetings of freemen, and by force (not only without law but against law) have, under colour of magisterial office, interrupted their deliberations, and prevented their association. "The wisdom and good conduct of the British Convention at Edinburgh, has been such as to defy their bitterest enemies to name the law which they have broken; notwithstanding which, their papers have been seized, made use of as evidence against them, and many virtuous and meritorious individuals have been, as cruelly as unjustly, for their virtuous actions, disgraced and destroyed by infamous and illegal sentences of transportation, and these unjust and wicked judgments have been executed with a rancour and malignity never before known in this land. Our respectable and beloved fellow citizens have been cast, fettered, into dungeons, amongst felons in the hulks, to which they were not sentenced. "Citizens;-We all approve the sentiments, and are daily repeating the words, for which these our respectable and valuable brethren,are thus unjustly and inhumanly suffering. We too associate in order to obtain a fair, free, and full representation of the people, in a house of real national representatives: are we also willing to be treated as felons, for claiming this our important right, which we are determined never to forego but with our lives, and which none but thieves and traitors can wish to withhold from us? Consider, it is one and the same corrupt and corrupting influence, which at this time domineers in Ireland, Scotland, and England. Can you believe that those who send virtuous Irishmen and Scotchmen, fettered with felons, to Botany Bay, do not meditate, and will not attempt to seize the first moment to send us after them? Or, if we had not just cause to apprehend the same inhuman treatment, if, instead of the most imminent danger, we were in perfect safety from it, should we not disdain to enjoy any liberty or privilege whatever, in which our honest Irish and Scotch brethren did not equally, and as fully participate with us? Their cause then and ours is the same; and it is both our duty and our interest, to stand or fall together. The Irish parliament and the Scotch judges, actuated by the same English influence, have brought us directly to the point. There is no further step beyond that which they have taker; we are at issue, we must now choose at once, either liberty or slavery for ourselves and our posterity; will you wait till barracks are erected in every village, and till subsidized Hessians and Hanoverians are upon us? "You may ask, perhaps, by what means shall we seek redress? "We answer, that men in a state of civilized society are bound to seek redress of their grievances from the laws, as long as any redress can be obtained by the laws; but our common master whom we serve (whose law is a law of liberty, and whose service is perfect freedom) has taught us not to expect to gather grapes from thorns, nor figs from thistles; we must have redress from our own laws, and not from the laws of our plunderers, enemies, and oppressors. "There is no redress for a nation, circumstanced as we are, but in a fair, free, and full representation of the people." "Resolved,―That during the ensuing session of parliament, the general committee of this society do meet daily, for the purpose of watching the proceedings of the parliament, and of the administration of the government of this country; and that, upon the first introduction of any bill or motion inimical to the liberties of the people, such as, for landing foreign troops in Great Britain, or Ireland, for suspending the Habeas Corpus act; for proclaiming martial law; or for preventing the people from meeting in societies for constitutional information, or any other innovation of a similar nature; that on any of these emergencies, the general committee shall issue summonses to the delegates of each division, and also to the secretaries of the different societies, affiliated and corresponding with this society, forthwith to call a general convention of the people, to be held at such a place, and in such a manner as shall be specified in the summons, for the purpose of taking such measures into their consideration. 66 Resolved, That the preceding address and resolution be signed by the chairman, and printed and published. "J. MARTIN, chairman. "T. HARDY, Secretary." responding Society, held on the green at "At a general meeting of the London CorChalk Farm, on Monday the 14th of April, 1794, J. Lovett in the chair. [The following letters were read.] "To the chairman of the society of the Friends of the People." "Sir;-At a crisis so important as the present, there needs no apology, on the part of the London Corresponding Society, for addressing itself to all other associated societies who have in view the same object as themselves. "To the society of the Friends of the People arguments are not wanting to show the importance and absolute necessity of a full and fair representation of the people of Great Britain. They have investigated the subject for themselves; they have exposed to the world a series of plain and indisputable facts, which must excite in the mind of every man, well disposed to his country, apprehensions of alarm for the security of the few remaining vestiges of liberty, from which as Britons we derive consolation. "Deeply impressed with considerations of this nature, the London Corresponding Society earnestly solicits, at this time, the concurrence and assistance of the society of the Friends of the People, in assembling as speedily as the nature of the business will admit, a convention of the Friends of Freedom, for the purpose of obtaining, in a legal and constitutional method, a full and effectual representation. "Our request is not made from the impressions of the moment, but after the maturest deliberation on the value and importance of the object for which we are contending, and of the difficulties we may expect from those whose present interests render them hostile to the welfare of their country. "The opposition of such persons is no small argument for the goodness of our cause; and their late conduct, when compared with their former professions, exhibits a depravity unparalleled, we trust, in the page of history. "Under the auspices of apostate reformers, we have lately beheld serious and alarming encroachments on the liberties of the people. "We have seen, with indignation and horror, men, legally and peaceably assembled, dispersed by unconstitutional powers, and their papers seized. "We have seen some of our most virtuous brethren, whose only crime has been an imitation of Mr. Pitt, and his associates, sentenced to 14 years transportation, without the sanction of law, or even of precedent, of which number one was held up in the British parliament, as convicted and condemned, before he was even put upon his trial. "The insidious attempts also to introduce foreign troops into this country, without the consent of parliament, and the intended bill to embody foreigners into his majesty's service, are measures sufficiently calculated to awaken our fears for the existence even of the name of liberty; nor can we overlook that part of the present system of corruption, which maintains, out of the public plunder, a train of spies, more dangerous to society than so many assassins, whose avowed business is, to destroy the friends of the country, one by one. "These are grievances which demand immediate redress; and when added to those evils which are necessarily connected with every partial representation of the people, call for the strenuous exertions of every lover of his country. "But we are told that the present is not the time for reform, and that innovation may introduce disturbance. Are those persons to judge of the proper time to make a reform, VOL. XXIV. who exist only by corruption? Are the people of Britain to endure every thing without repining, without ardently seeking a radical reform, because disturbances may happen? Have the enemies to reform told us whence these disturbances aro to originate? Has a single overt act been committed by the friends to freedom? Have not all the riots, all the public disturbances, all the seditious assemblies, been excited by the enemies to reform? -And do they mean to tell us, that they will still find other instruments for their wicked designs,-that they have yet those who will act over again the outrages that have been perpetrated in some parts of Britain, and attempted in others? "If such is the determination of these persons, hostile to a fair representation, let them look to the consequences: but let them recollect, that it has happened, and may happen again, that those who kindled the flames, have perished by them. "The Friends to Reform, are friends to peace; their principles can be promoted only by peaceable means; they know of no other method of obtaining the object they desire. But, they will not be alarmed by the threats of venal apostates; they will not draw back, because they have seen some of their best friends doomed to exile. They will pursue the course in which they have begun, and turn neither to the right nor to the left. "Convinced, as the London Corresponding Society is, that as there is no power which ought, so there is no power which can finally withstand the just and steady demands of a people resolved to be free; they will, therefore, look with confidence to the determination, and, they hope, to the co-operation of the society of the Friends of the People, in the attainment of an object which involves the dearest interests of society. "Convinced, also, that their intentions are of the purest kind, they will never stoop to answer the calumnies of their enemies; but will, at all times, and in all circumstances, endeavour, by firmness and perseverance, to deserve the countenance and approbation of the best friends of their country, the friends of a fair representation of the people of Great Britain.I am, Sir, for the London Corresponding Society, "April 4. 1794. THOMAS HARDY, sec." "Committee Rooms, Frith Street, "April 11th 1794. "Sir;-Your letter of the 4th instant, addressed to Mr. Sheridan, Chairman of the Friends of the People, was laid before the society, at their meeting on Saturday last; and they instructed their committee to thank the London Corresponding, Society for their communication, and to express the alarm they feel in common with every friend of liberty, at the late extraordinary proceedings of government, so ably detailed, and so justly reprobated by your society. E |