guilty of a libel, he was sentenced to two years imprisonment in Newgate, and to pay 10007. to the King.

During Sir Francis Burdett's confinement in the Tower, a deputation from the Livery of London, to the number of one hundred and twenty, proceeded from Guildhall in their ancient costumes, and in several carriages, preceded by the City Marshals, other City officers, and Mr. Sheriff Wood, Colonel Bosville, &c. went to the Tower, where they were met by Lord Moira, who complimented them as they passed, and introduced them to Sir Francis Burdett, who thanked them for the honour they had done him; after which they returned in the same order as they came. But as the parliament adjourned for the usual recess in June, the liberation of Sir Francis Burdett followed as a matter of course, an event which his friends could not pass over without shewing every public mark of approbation of his conduct in their power. His constituents in Westminster having announced their intention of going in procession, it proved a kind of signal for the assemblage of the idle and dissolute of all descriptions, as well as the more respectable part of the Baronet's friends. Perhaps on no previous occasion had there ever been a greater number of people assembled in all the streets leading from Piccadilly to the Tower than on this, exclusive of carriages, horse and foot, mostly decorated with blue ribbands and mottoes, and escorted with music. Besides the crowds that lined the streets, an immense multitude was collected on Tower hill, waiting the great event with the utmost impatience till near four in the afternoon; when, to the inexpressible mortification of the unthinking populace, they learned that Sir Francis had left the Tower quite privately, going down the river a little distance, and then landing, and taking horse to his house at Wimbledon. A little reflection, however, soothed the mortification of the many on not seeing their favourite, some of whom, with every impartial person and friend to order, gave him great credit for the motives that led him to privacy, instead of an ostentatious appearance of triumph.

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In the evening an illumination to a very considerable extent took place; and it was a great satisfaction to all reflecting minds, that the peace of the metropolis was not on this occasion at all disturbed; and that no military force was wanting to preserve public. order. Mr. Gale Jones was on the same day liberated from his confinement iu Newgate: but this event, in consequence of the disappointment of the populace in seeing Sir Francis Burdett, produced little or no sensation.

The City of London being duly impressed with the circumstance of his Majesty's Jubilee, Mr. Jacks, in a Court of Common Council, having moved that " a bust of our Most Excellent Sovereign George the Third be placed in the Council Chamber of the City of London as a grateful testimony to descend to the latest posterity of the high sense that Court entertained of the manifold blessings enjoyed under his paternal reign, in which, during the long period of fifty years, and under the most arduous circumstances ever recorded in history, Britons have the proud satisfaction to feel that amid the wreck of surrounding nations, their beloved country has preserved its laws, its religion, its liberties, and its independence unimpaired," it was agreed, after some debate, that, instead of a bust, a statue should be erected; and, on the motion of Mr. Dixon, a Committee, consisting of the Lord Mayor, all the Aldermen present, and a Commoner from each ward, was appointed to see it carried into effect. Much about the same time, in consequence of previous enquiry and investigation on the subject of prisons, the Common-Council came to the following important resolutions:-1. Resolved, that the prison of Newgate is inadequate to the accommodation required for the average number of prisoners usually confined therein, particularly for female prisoners.

2. That it is expedient, and would be highly beneficial, to separate prisoners committed for trial, from convicted felons.

3. That it is expedient, and would be highly beneficial to remove prisoners for debt from Newgate to some other place of confinement,

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finement, there being nearly 200 debtors confined in a space calculated to receive only 110, whose removal would afford greater accommodation to criminal prisoners.

4. That the length of time which prisoners are detained in Newgate (in some instances 12 months) after being sentenced to transportation, is one of the greatest causes of the crowded state of the gaol.

5. That the evil effects arising from the crowded state of the gaol would be greatly obviated by erecting a House of Correc tion for the reception of the minor classes of offenders; a measure which has been found highly beneficial to the administration of criminal justice, and to the moral reform of the offenders.

6. That the confinement of lunatics in Newgate, and allowing them to mix with other prisoners, is repugnant to every principle of humanity, and ought to be discontinued.

7. That irons ought in all cases of commitment to be of the lightest kind, consistent with safe custody, and that the keepers should in no instance double iron that description of persons, except in cases of outrage, or by order of some one of the magistrates, or the sheriffs.

8. That none of the assistant keepers, menial servants, or other persons belonging to the prisons should be permitted to receive gratuities from prisoners for what are denominated indulgences, a practice, which if permitted in any degree to exist, opens the door to every species of abuse and infamous traffic.

9. That the fees of every kind taken by the keepers of the prisons, or by clerks, or by other officers from prisoners, should be entirely abolished; and that a liberal remuneration should be made to the different persons who have hitherto been accustomed to receive those fees.

10. That the Poultry Compter is in a most deplorable and ruinous condition, and by no means a fit place for the confinement of prisoners of any description; and that being entirely sur

rounded

rounded by private residences, its site is a very improper and insecure situation for a prison, which ought to be erected in a more and unconnected space.

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11. That it be referred back to the Committee for General Purposes to consider of the best means of giving effect to the preceding resolutions; and to report from time to time to the Court; and that the Committee for City Lands do report the state of their proceedings respecting the Poultry Compter as soon as possible.

It cannot be concealed that the City during the latter end of 1809, and the course of 1810, met with singular opposition in the unprecedented obstacles thrown in the way of presenting their addresses and petitions. It appears, as a member of the Common Council observed, "that for several years past, the right of petition had been frittered away. At first upon account of his Majesty's infirmities, the petitions of the City were only to be presented at Levees, and now (in 1810) it was said they were not to be delivered at at all into his hands, but to be sent to his secretary" And though the right of presenting a petition to the King sitting on his throne, had just before been waved in one of the first resolutions passed at a Common Hall, it was positively expressed" that out of personal feelings towards their sovereign they did wave the exercise of this right. It was also resolved unanimously, that whoever advised his Majesty not to receive the petition of the Livery in the accustomed and established mode had committed a scandalous breach of their duty, violated one of the first principles of the constitution, and abused the confidence of their Sovereign." Persisting in this right, and being again refused; in another Common Hall, held on the 24th of January, 1810, it was resolved "that his Majesty's Ministers, in denying to the Sheriffs admission to the Royal Presence, contrary to all precedent, had violated an ancient and most valuable privilege of the Metropolis, insulted the great body of its citizens, and displayed a daring spirit of despotism, alike hostile to the true interests of the Crown, and the liberties of the people."

On the 30th of January 1810, Colonel Wardle attended at Guildhall to receive the thanks and the freedom of the city, in consequence of the part which he took in prosecuting the inquiry into the conduct of the Duke of York, and his unfortunate connection with Mrs. Mary Anne Clarke.

In the following month a resolution, proposed by Mr. Waithman, for establishing a standing order to prevent for the future - any petition or address, voted by the Common Council, and once agreed on, from being reconsidered, or any other substituted in place thereof, was, after a debate of considerable length, agreed to.

It would appear that much valuable time was lost in the almost useless attendance to a requisition from the Livery for a Common Hall, for taking into consideration the conduct of the House of Commons in the imprisonment of Mr. Gale Joncs and Sir Francis Burdett; the result of this was a great deal of bitter altercation among the different parties, and the passing of a number of resolutions, which had no other apparent effect than to excite a counter meeting of the Livery at the London Tavern in Bishopsgate Street, with other resolutions, and a declaration in direct opposition to the former! In fact, almost the whole busi

ness of Common Halls and Common Councils during the summer of 1810, was confined to the subject of Parliamentary reform, which the parties themselves seemed to forget, the moment a new subject of discussion was introduced; and when the new Lord Mayor went in state to Guildhall to hold the first Court of Common Council in his mayoralty, the late Chief Magistrate, received a vote of thanks for his excellent and patriotic conduct, which was put and carried unanimously.

The last business of importance which occupied the attention of the Common Council at the close of the year 1810, was the regulations proposed for the City Militia, or rather the abuses connected with this establishment. The report of a Committee appointed to examine the subject, being brought forward, it appeared they had agreed that it was expedient to petition Parliament to enable them to do away the militia acts altogether. The

militia