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whether popish or protestant , are Justly brought under the lash of the law , if , under the pretext of their religion , they dare to devote to civil or eternal punishment , any one who happens to differ from them in opinion , The discussion on civil rights has been carried on in the country by a continuance of petitions to the House for the liberation of Sir F Burdett and Mr . Gale
Jones , and for a reform i » Parliament . . All of them were drawn up in very strong terms , and some , in consequence , were rejected by the House ; though , on comparing those that were received with those which were rejected , there does not appear by any means to havefceen an uniformity in the mode of proceeding . It
was natural to be expected that the Middlesex , petition would share this fate ; since , on the meeting being called to consider the proceedings to be adopted , in consequence of the rejection of their last petition , they enumerated all the truths that had been previously so ofFen * ive , and concluded v ^ ith the request that both the
present and the last might be laid upon tlVe table . The meeting was very numerously attended ; the opposite party spoke freely their sentiments , but scarcely any kai \ ds were held up for them . In the House the petition was treated with little ceremony , and another from
Sheffield was rejected at the same time . The latter ^ came from a very large and respectable meeting , and spoke in strong terms ; arrd , at the same time , an address was drawn up to Sir Francis Burdett , who hak received a great number of similar addresses from all parts of the island .
The Common Council of London also presented a petition upon the same subject to the Hoiise , which gave an . opportunity of shewing the world , that the C 6 mmon Council and the Common Mail agreed in the same sentiments . The former body was not , ndr was it exp € Gted to be so unanimous . The debate Was animated arid vigorous , but the
petition was carried by only a small majority . When the nature of this body is considered , the triumph may be considered as very great , and we may fairly appreciate the sentiments of the country at large by those of the metropolis and the / metropolitan county . This superi ^ ority was" rendered more decisive by the attetnpts to counteract it ; for in several parishes the select vestries , with the
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clergymen at tbeir head , - drew up addresses with expressions of lpy alty and abuse of their opponents , which , in general , were carried by very few persons , and , with all the exertions of influence , produced very few signatures . In Southwark , also , a similar petition znd address were carried unanimously ; and in several places . resolutions only
were passed , as it was thought superfluous to address the House . The great question , however , remains undecided . Sir F . Burdett continued firm to his purpose , and took every step for bringing it into the courts of law ' ,, and the pleadings will certainly be interesting . Attempts were made in the House to prevent this appeal to the courts , but they were overruled : and it will be a
satisfaction to the people of England to see the case well argued . An attempt was also made to liberate Mr . Gale Jones , but the House did not come to a division , it being the opinion that his stay in prison was owing to his own obstinacy , or what
others would call manly ¦ perseverance . Indeed , the more we consider his case , the less ground can we see for the severity used towards him ; and had not the House been hurried into its fi . st opinion , we cannot conceive that he could have
been doomed to such a punishment . Taking the privileges of the House in the most extensive sense , we eannot bee in . what manner he was guilty of a breach of them . He may have offaictecj an individual member , but no indignity appears to have been intended , nor was any offered to the Mouse .
The prorogation of Parliament put an end to the confinement of our two fellow subjects , and die Inhabitants of the metropolis were eager upoa th : s occasion to pay the dcseryrci inoute of icspect to the champion of Majjna Charta , For this purpose , a grand proce . * . > ion was prepared to accompany Si ; Fraach on his liberation from the Tower Great
preparations we > e al ^ o made : by the administration . The veterar s i ( i thi : Tower were changed for Scotch regiments , and ibrces were cojie ; ted from all quarters to preserve the psace af the metropolis . On
the % xst Pjajrlia , m $ n £ vyas prorogued . Earl Moira was in the Tower upon this occasion , and received advico of i ^ l > y signal * and at , ha f p ^ t three in the afternoon . communicated jto , > ir JF . Bardett the ifuelligejice , thut he w ^ uj at liberty fa < ju , it $ Te 1 ? ower . h J £ } ii $ perrnUsioti
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State of Public A fairs . Sit
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1810, page 315, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2405/page/43/
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