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Dawes, who can prove that he offered me money; and he said he would take me to a place, and I should not come to any harm. He offered me 30 or 401; and I said, I would not for any sum give the letter out of

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"R. B. Sheridan. Somerset Place, Trea"surer of the Navy. To Captains and "Commanders of His Majesty's Ships of "War."-Had you yourself ever any per. sonal knowledge of Mr. S's. hand-writing No.-Had you ever the slightest intercourse with Mr. S. before this time? Never before the 5th of Feb. last.-Was the first or the second letter connected with any condition, that you should procure for Mr. S. any num ber of votes for the Westminster election! No, not one; I am sorry to say that I did not get one vote.-To the best of your knowledge, what became of the first letter? I asked Mr. Drake what became of the first letter; and he said he destroyed it, because he did not think two should be in circulation.-You

and Mr. Burgess and Mr. Sheridan advised me to let them have the letter, which I told them I could not by any means; as I had a warrant from the house of commons to produce it, I should certainly obey it. They said, they thought it could not be any harmniny hands to any person. To whom is the for me to give it up; I said, I could not do letter addressed? I have the letter ; it is to any thing of the kiud,--Did not Mr. Burgess captains and commanders of his majesty's advise you to deliver the letter to a messen- ships of war. I have the letter here. He ger of this house? I do say so.-Had not stated that the signature only was Mr. S's. you another letter, some considerable time writing.-[The letter was read, and is as you had this letter, purporting to be follows:] London, Nov. 3, 1806.—Sif, signed by Mr. Sheridan? Yes, pretty near "The bearer is a respectable tradesman a month I dare say; being blotted, I shewed" and if you will permit him to serve the it to my friends, and asked them what they ship under your command, I am certain thought of the letter? they said, if you can "justice will be done to every man' on get one with the signature of it more plain, "board that employs him to fit him out it will be better. I went back to Mr. Drake "with clothes, &c.; and in so doing you and said, I should thank you, Mr. Drake," will greatly oblige your obedient, &c. if you could get a letter signed more plain by Mr. Sheridan, the Treasurer of the Navy; but that letter had M. P. to it, which I thought not proper, as there was no parliament. What was the distance of time between your receiving the first and the second letter? About 3 months, when Mr. Drake was so long about giving me the other letter. I will tell you the particulars: I paid him for the letter, I gave him money for his trouble. I says, Mr. Drake, if you will get me a letter which will be of great service to me in my business, you shall not do it for nothing he said, well, Harris, what will you give me? I said, will a 101. note satisfy you? he said, yes, as you are a neighbour, I do not wish so much as that; I will be satisfied with 5; how-gave it back to Mr. Drake? Yes; I asked ever, Mr. Drake has had to the amount of 51.8s, of me for the letter.-When Mr. S. expressed his surprise at your believing it possible for him to have signed that letter, did you not state that admiral Colpoys and admiral Parker, and others had signed such letters? Yes, and I can name the Look at that signature (R. B. Sheridan); parties; it is an usual thing for gentlemen it appears to be blotted, does not it? Yes. to give such letters. There is the duke-Were you present when that blotting took of Clarence; Mr. Zachariah has one.Did you not go of yourself, voluntarily, and give your evidence to Mr. Graham ? I certainly did. When I applied to Mr. S. I said I would advertise Mr. Drake, when I heard the letter was a forgery. Mr. S. said, it is a pity to do that; he will "receive his punishment," I wished several times to advertise him, because I could not find him.-Was any means taken by Mr. Drake to offer, you money, or reward, to get that letter out of your possession There is a gentleman of the name of Mr.

him how it became so blotted, and he said Mr. S. dried it with the cuff of his coat.-That was 3 or 4 months before the second letter was obtained? About a month, or 5 weeks. Cross-examined by Mr. Clifford, on behalf of the Petitioner.

place? I do not know.-When first that letter was delivered to you, was there any blotting on the name of R. B. Sheridan? I cannot say whether there was or not.-Was there any blotting upon the name there, after you came to town? That I cannot answer. When I was served with a warrant I took and locked it in a trunk of mine in

the same piece of paper it is in now, and I took it and kept it at home, and never had it out of doors since.-Do you mean to say you cannot tell whether that blot on the name of R. B. Sheridan took place before or after you

came to town? I do mean to say so, I do not know. Do you mean to say that blot did not arise from ink thrown upon it by Mr. S. in your presence? I cannot say that, because I know nothing at all about it. Did not you deliver that letter after you came to town into the hands of Mr. S.? Not out of my sight. Did you deliver it into his hands? I let him have it into his hand, and take out a copy of it.-Was there an ink-stand near, when he had it? It was in my sight, and if any person had touched it I should have seen it; I saw no person touch it-Will you venture to swear, that at the time you delivered it to Mr. S. the blot was on his name?. I cannot say any thing about that, for I took no notice of it.-Had not you been in the habit of using that letter day by day at Portsmouth, for above 2 months before you came to town? No.Where were you when you were served with the Speaker's summons to attend before the committee ? In Mr. Boswell's house at Gosport.-You have stated that Mr. Boswell asked you if you wanted money? Yes. What did he ask you if you wanted money for? I do not know; he asked me if I would let him have the letter for 24 bours, that he would give me bank-security if I would, 10 or 201. That I can bring proof of by respectable persons, Mr. Joseph of Gosport Was the bank-security for the return of the letter, or for his not keeping it beyond the 24 hours? I would not let him have it on any conditions.-What did he offer you bank-security for? For returning the letter. You have stated the names of different persons whose letters you have seen used I have not seen them; I have heard of their being used. You have stated that you went to the magistrate voluntarily to give your evidence; at whose desire did you go? My own, because I wanted to have it advertised in the paper; I was not satisfied with having a forgery in my possession. -When was that? I have marked the date upon, the letter, it is the 9th of Feb.-The letter, I think, you stated to be dated the 3d of Nov.? Yes. When did you first discover it was a forgery, and think it necessary to go and make your complaint to the magistrate? When I was told of it.-When was that? When I applied to Mr. S.When did you first apply to Mr. S.? When I first came to town, the 5th Feb. that night. -Had you not been using that letter for the purpose of selling your slops, till you saw Mr. S. on the 5th Feb. at night? I had not, because I locked it up, and would

not make any use of it, after I was served with the Speaker's warrant, I had been in the habit of delivering letters into men of war, where they have taken them, and torn them, and thrown them overboard, and I was afraid of their serving this letter the same.--When were you served with the Speaker's warrant? The 12th Jan. is the date here; I cannot exactly state whether that was the day.I believe it was the 20th ? It might be. Did you ever suggest to Mr. S. any doubt of the signature till you had been served with the Speaker's warrant ? I never applied to Mr. S. till the 5th of Feb. and then he told me so; and I said it was better to advertise Mr. Drake if I could not find him.-How came you not to apply to Mr. S. if you thought this a forgery, till you were served with the Speaker's warrant? I did not think it was a forgery till the 5th of Feb.-Who told you so then? Mr. S.-How came you to go to Mr. S. to ask him about it? Because I was served with the Speaker's warrant; and these people applying to me for the letter, I went and asked him whether I might give it up or not.-When Mr. Bosweil served you with the Speaker's warrant, did he not tell you that you were to be called to support the petition of Mr. Paull? He told me I was to apply to the house of commons on the 24th of Feb.; and he asked me ff I had not a letter in my possession, signed by R. B. Sheridan, Treasurer of the Navy, I said, yes; and he said, would I let him look at it? I said, I had no objection. He asked whether I would let him take a copy, and I did.-Did not you know, from Mr. Boswell, that it was on the behalf of Mr. Paull that you were summoned ? Yes.-How came you to go to Mr. S.? Because, several times they applied to me for the letter, and that was the only reason I went to Mr. S. I live at Portsea, and Mr. Boswell at Gosport; and every now and then they sent over to me, and askeď me for the letter. I did not think it proper to give it them; I told them I should go up to town, and have advice upon it: I would not act upon my own opinion.-When were those applications first made to you by those persons? Several times after I was served with the precept.

Examined by the House.

Did you vote at the election for Westmin ster? Yes. For whom? For Mr. S.-Did you vote before you received that letter? I believe it was 9 or 10 days afterwards.-Did you apply to Drake in the first instance to

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in? Spirits, and porter, and wines, and all sorts of liquor.-Is it a house open in the night-time? It is open for the market in the morning.-Is it open all night? No, it is not.-The greatest part of the night? From between 3 and 4 in the morning; I open it then.-Did you know Robertson yourself? Yes I did.-And Bazeley too? Yes.-And Lucy Wallis? Yes.-Were they all your acquantance? They were none of my acquaintance but curiosity led me to know them.

Mr. B. Hart was next examined. He had been employed by Mr. Paull during the election; he did not, however, consider himself as Mr. Paull's agent. Mr. Paull called at his house and left his card: he called a second time, and requested him to come to his house, Charles-street, St. James's-square, which he did, when Mr. Paull entreated him to exert his influence to procure him votes. About a week after the election he had some conversation with Mr. Paull and Mr. Powell respecting some suspicions that had gone abroad about bad votes said to have been given to Mr. Sheridan, and they recommended to him to endeavour to procure information respecting that matter; he however soon after fell ill, in which state he continued some weeks, and had not seen Mr. Paull since.

get the first letter? I asked him for it at a place where I was. I took him with me to a meeting one night.-You stated tha you knew several persons in your trade who have letters of that description: did you apply to him for a letter from Mr. S.? I said, if he could get me a letter from an admiral; I did not know any thing of Mr. S.-You have stated that you were present when Mr. S. took a copy of this letter; who was present besides you ? Mr. Johnston was in the room.-Did you not think Mr. Paul was examined respecting some the name of the person who fills the office letters said to have passed between him and B. of treasurer of the navy, would have a Hart. He acknowledged the hand-writing, better effect signed to his letter, than even and was proceeding to offer some observations the name of an admiral? I do not know. upon the question to the house, when he was -What use did you intend to make of that reminded by the Speaker of the capacity in letter? For an introduction. -How was the which he then stood at the bar of the house. introduction to be procured? When I have got a letter of this sort in my possession, and I go alongside a ship, I hand it up the side, saying, I have a letter for the commanding officer and they look at it if they please to take it into the ship; then if they please or not to admit the person who has the letter.-Would you not prefer a letter from sir Isaac Coffin, to a letter from the treasurer of the navy? Yes. Mrs. Butler examined by the House. Have you sufficient means of knowing the character of Mr. Weatherhead? Yes, I have. His brother, whenever he came to town, lodged at my house; and whenever he came he asked for his brother, and he has often sent for him; he is a poor unfortunate person; he was born in the year 1760; here is his age. What is your opinion of Mr. Weatherhead, and would you believe his testimony on oath? I could not believe his Mr. Sheridan was proceeding to ask the testimony at all; he is a man of very bad cha-witness several more questions, respecting racter; he used to go out and be torn allto pie- his employment during the election, whether ces, and his brother was quite ashamed of he did accompany Mr. Paull in his carriage him. Is he of that reputation you would to and from the hustings, &c. &c., when not believe him upon his oath? I would not believe him for a farthing, upon his oath.With what company has he associated? The last time he was in my house, he was in company with Robertson, who was hung lately; that was a few days before Robertson was taken up; I never saw him till this even- Mr. Sheridan said, that such was the obing again, and then he went away the mo-ject he had in view; but he thought it neneut he saw me.-Was he acquainted with cessary, at the same time, to ascertain the chaa person of the name of Bazeley? Yes, he racters of the persons who were made the lived with the same woman; Bazeley lived instruments to attempt to prove these allewith a girl of the name of Lucy Wallis-Ro-gations, and carry on one of the foulest bertson was hung? Yes, and Bazeley too. conspiracies that the malignity of man had Cross-examined by Mr. Warren on behalf of ever conceived.-The examination and tes "the Petitioner. timony of the last witness was then ordered What is this house of your's? My houseo be expunged from the minutes taken at is the Queen's Head.-What do you deal the bar, on the ground that it entered toe

Lord Howick observed, that his hon. friend, according to his own principle laid down on a former occasion, thought it best not to touch upon the general conduct of the elec tion, but merely upon the allegations contained in the petition.

much into the merits of the petition to be entertained by the house.

place, wished to know from him whether it was his intention to bring forward the motion, of which he had given notice, for the expulsion of a member not now present (Mr. Cawthorne). It was painful to the

Mr. Sheridan observed, that, if the house should deem it necessary to adopt any further proceedings relative to what was disclosed at their bar, there were several other wit-hon, member, who was the object of that nesses in readiness, whom, perhaps, it motion, that the matter should remain lonmight be thought necessary to call in, as ger in suspense. It was also desirable to they might possibly corroborate many of the the house that the question should be brought particulars which had fallen from the other to a decision as soon as possible. witnesses, or fill up some trifling chasms in the evidence; for his own part, however, he did not mean to trouble the house with any further evidence, but was perfectly satisfied to let his case rest where it was. The papers which had been moved for that night,ject of the motion. But the house having by a noble lord (Howick), would be sufficient to shew that there was not a word of truth in what had been said by Drake and another, who was thought to be a principal witness on the part of the petitioner.

Lord Howick declared his firm conviction, that a foul and scandalous conspiracy had been entered into against the sitting member; and in order that the house might have an opportunity of judging more precisely as to the quality of the evidence which had been adduced at their bar, he moved that the evidence be printed, which was ordered accordingly.

Mr. Whitbread observed, that it might be necessary to take some measure to secure the future attendance of the witnesses at the bar, in case the house should think fit to take any further steps relative to the nature of the evidence which they had heard.-The house then ordered, that the further proceeding on the Westminster petition and evidence should be resumed on Friday the 15th instant, and that the witnesses should attend on that day.

Mr. Sheridan thought it but justice to Mr. Cobbett to state, before the rising of the house, that notwithstanding what Drake had asserted, he was. fully satisfied that he was entirely unconnected with the scandalous proceedings which had been taken against bim.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Friday, March 6. [MINUTES.] Mr. Hobhouse, chairman of the committee appointed to try the merits of the Wick election, reported, that the sitting member, Mr. Mackenzie, was duly elected, and that the petition of Sir John Sinclair against him was not frivolous nor vexations.

[CONDUCT OF MR. CAWTHORNE.] Colohel: Witoer, seeing an hon. general in his

General Porter said, that no man was more anxious than he that this matter should be brought to a speedy decision, which must be equally desirable to the house and the gentleman who was the ob

thought fit to appoint a committee to inquire into precedents relating to expulsion, he could not possibly proceed till that committee should have made its report. That report being now before the house, it was his intention this day, if the chairman of the committee alluded to had been present, to fix a day as early as consistent with the convenience of that hon. gent., and that of the house. He would now merely state, that he intended on Monday to fix as early a day as possible, consistent with these objects.

[CALL OF THE HOUSE.] The names of the defaulters at the ballot for the Guilford election committee, on Thursday, were called over, and those who had no excuse to offer, were ordered to attend in their places on Tuesday, and in the event of there being absent without excuse on that day, to be taken into the custody of the serjeant at arms.

Mr. Perceval took occasion here to say, that he did not look upon what was stated from any particular side of the house on cases of this kind to be the law. He should take the liberty of exercising his own judg ment on every individual case till the house should have pronounced upon it. On the occasion on which he had been a defaul ter, he had been in attendance at the bar of the house of lords, in the discharge of his professional duty. It was not for him to say whether that would be, in the sense of the house, an excuse; but he wished to know from the sense of the house whe ther his absence was criminal in such cases. He was unwilling to depend on what might be the sense of one side of the house or of any individual.

The Speaker stated, that it was the law of the house, that defaulters should be taken into custody. The order now made was but a notice that this law would be enforced,

Lord H. Petty said, that this proceeding | promise of their consciences, and a disapof taking defaulters into custody was, as pointment of the wishes of the people. had been stated from the chair, the law of the house. But it was open to the house to exercise its judgment on every individual case, and either to enforce the law, or dispense with its enforcement, upon sufficient excuse, or at its pleasure. But it was to be understood that, generally, it would be enforced, and that was the reason for making it a particular order on every particular occasion,

[SLAVE TRADE ABOLITION BILL]. The house, on the motion of lord Howick, resolved itself into a committee on the Slave Trade Abolition bill.

If

Sir Philip Francis argued in favour of the bill. He maintained, that the abolition, so far from being injurous to the navy of this country, would be advantageous to our maritime strength, by preserving our seamen from the mortality which took place in the prosecution of that trade. it were to be only a question respecting the navy of this country and the navy of France, he should not have any objection that the whole of the French navy should be employed in that trade; and he was convinced that our navy would maintain its superiority, while that of the enemy would be reduced still lower than it was at present. Nothing tended so much to the calamities that had ruined St. Domingo, as the un limited power that individuals had of increasing the disproportion between the black and the white population. This bill would extinguish that power, and, therefore, secure the tranquillity of the British colonies.

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Sir Charles Pole opposed the measure, not, he observed, with a view to the consideration of any individual interests, but as an object of the utmost national importance. About the year 1780, there were 15,000 persons destroyed by a hurricane in Jamaica; in case of such an event taking place again, it would be found impossible to uphold the state of property in the islands, without importation. On the Mr. Fuller would be extremely glad, to other hand, if the trade was not permitted hear by what regulations the hon. member's by parliament to be continued, it would father (Mr. Ward) kept up the population be found almost impossible to prevent smug- on his estate in Jamaica, and there could gling; or even if we did compleatly aban- not be the smallest doubt of all the other don the trade, it would be immediately planters being extremely obliged to him, taken up by the enemy, who would increase and most cheerfully following his example and strengthen his navy by those means, He had heard something of its local situaand we might soon expect to see the down-tion, preventing the negroes from fall of the British empire. At least he thought it might be expedient to give the planters time to add to their number of female slaves, as a probable means of laying the foundation for a better supply in future. He therefore moved, that instead of May, 1807, the words May, 1812, should be inserted, as the time for the commencement of the operation of the bill.

Mr. Ward contended that our colonies would neither be injured nor ruined by the operation of the immediate abolition, but that on the contrary they would be benefited thereby. The disproportion between births and deaths had been for several years declining in Jamaica. And the beneficial operation of this measure would leave the effect of reducing that disproportion still more. Besides, the population would be kept up by the kind treatment, which it would then be the interest of the planters to extend to their negroes. He should prefer the rejection of the whole measure to voting for the extension of its commencement for five years, which would be only a com

mixing with those on the estates adjoining their habits were different, and that might insome measure account for the difference in the maintenance of the population on that particular estate. He cautioned gentle men, however, against being led away by false notions of popularity and huma-, nity. Those who were planters themselves might easily raise a clamour against the, cruelty of the planters, &c., but he would have gentlemen to recollect that the West Indies had been the support of the country for many years, both as to seamen and revenue. We might as well say, Oh, we will not have our chimney swept, because it is a little troublesome to the boy, as that we should give up the benefit of the West Indies on account of the supposed hard.. ships of the negro.

General Vyse vindicated the character of the planters for humanity; but supported the bill most strenuously, on the ground that there was a most shameful a buse of the authority delegated by them.

Sir T. Turton observed, that if the mea.

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