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Comedy,
Valiant,

Vigilant,

Alert,

Liberty frigate

Buftler,

LIST OF THE

Captain Sheridan.
Captain Burgoyne.
Captain Darby.
Captain Malden.

Captain S. House.

Captain G. Boulton. ]

ENEMY'S SQUADRON.

Incendiary, Captain Mahon---A bad fhip, and badly manned.

Apoftate, Captain Wilkes---Once a good fhip, her timber now decayed, fhortly to be broke up.

Turncoat, Captain Churchill---Very indifferent.

Inconftant, Captain Jebb---A very good fhip, but badly manned.

Prerogative, Admiral Wray, Captain Mountmorres---An old ship, but in good con dition, though fome of her timbers are fuppofed to be decaying.

Shadow, Captain Trentham---A weak fhip, and poorly officered.
Knighthood, Captain Turner---Sufpected to be unfound.
Solicitor, Captain Arden---Under no command of her helm.
Renegado, Captain Robinson---Totally bad and rotten.

Bufybody, Captain Rainforth---Fit for nothing but breaking up.

Froft floop, Lieutenant Makeshift---A look-out frigate of no fervice..

ADVERTISEMENT.

February 17, 1784.] In confequence of a requifition from five Members, a special meeting of the Westminster Committee, as originally conftituted by the inhabitants at large of the city, will be held to-morrow, at twelve o'clock precisely, at the King's Arms Tavern, Weftminster, C. J. FOX

ADVERTISEMENT.

KING'S ARMS TAVERN, PALACE-YARD.

February 18, 1784.] At a numerous and refpectable meeting of the Westminster Com mittee, fummoned by public advertisement in all the papers,

Refolved,

JOHN BRETT, Efq. in the Chair,

"That the Addrefs, intitled, an Addrefs of the High Steward, Dean, and Court of "Burgeffes, and other Householders of the city of Westminster,' was furreptitiously "obtained, and was a measure contrary to the usual, open, and fair mode of proceeding. "in this city.

Refolved,

"That the advertisement, calling a general meeting on Saturday the 14th inftant, in "confequence of the previous meeting at the Shakespeare, and figned with the Chair"man's name gave timely and fufficient notice to the Electors of this City that fuch. "general meeting, would be held on that day, and was a manly and becoming proceed❝ing, and agreeable to the usage in fuch cafes of this city.

Refolvedǝ

Refolved,

That the proceedings of a meeting, held in the interval in the Court of Requests, <on Tuesday the 10th inftant, cailed by anonymous hand-bills and advertisements, defiring at firft the attendance only of those who had figned, or who approved, the "Addrefs of the High Steward, Dean, and Court of Burgeffes, and perfevered in by "advertisements ftill anonymous, after Saturday the 14th inftant (being the first day on "which the Hall was difengaged) has been publicly notified for the general meeting, were altogether partial and irregular, and that the Refolutions of fuch a meeting "cannot with decency be pretended to have fpoken the fenfe of the Electors of Weft❝minster.

Refolved,

"That the faid meeting in the Court of Requests (even if it had been fairly and im"partially called) being in confequence of a fummons for Electors only; and this Com"mittee being conftituted by the inhabitants at large of the city and liberties of Weft"minfter, the extravagant vote paffed at that meeting, for adding one hundred Mem"bers to this Committee, cannot but be confidered as an artifice which would have "been unworthy a fair Affembly, and was alfo a direct and violent infringement of the rights of a refpectable part of the Conftituents of this Committee, and that the Com"mittee do accordingly treat the attempt with becoming indignation, and direct their "Secretary not to admit the name of any one of thofe hundred perfons fo appointed, "upon the books of this Committee.

Refolved,

"That the fubfequent conduct of the abettors of the, faid meeting and Addrefs, by "perfevering in anonymous advertisements, and fcurrilous hand-bills, to appoint an "earlier hour for taking the Chair, by naming a Chairman, previous to the meeting, and *by other inflammatory proceedings, did manifeftly tend to call for and promife a fpirit "of tumult and confufion, when the meeting fhould take place; and that as fuch was "their preceding conduct, fo this Committee have abundant evidence that, during the "meeting, there was every appearance of a premeditated plan of riot and violence.'

This Committee further receiving, with the most serious concern, information of many acts of great outrage and violence committed, and endeavoured to be committed, at the General Meeting, and more particularly of a moft atrocious attempt, unprecedented in the annals of this country, and abhorrent to the nature of Englishmen, and which might have had the moft fatal confequences, do Refolve, That a Select Committee of Nine Members be appointed to examine fully into the fame, and to lay before this Committee the refult of their enquiries with as much expedition as poffible. Refolved,

65

"That the following Members are chofen as the Select Committee, viz.

Earl of Surrey,

Right Hon. Richard Fitzpatrick,

Sir Godfrey Webster, Bart.
Thomas Byron, Efq.

R. B. Sheridan, Efq.

Refolved,

Dudley Long, Efq.

A. Wallinger, Efq.

R. Hollingworth, Efq.
A. Shove, Efq.

"That this Committee do adjourn to Friday next, at twelve o'clock at noon, to receive the report of the Select Committee, and on other fpecial affairs."

JOHN BRETT, Chairman.

ADVERTISEMENT.

KING'S ARMS TAVERN, PALACE-YARD.

February 20, 1784.] At a numerous and moft refpectable adjourned meeting of the Weftminster Committee of Affociation,

JOHN BRETT, Efq. in the Chair,

The Report of the Select Committee was received and read.

Report of the Select Committee appointed to examine into the acts of outrage and violence committed at the General Meeting, held in Westminster Hall, on Saturday the 14th inftant;

"Upon a ferious and full enquiry into the circumftances attending the outrages com"mitted, and the tumults attempted to be raifed, at the General Meeting, held on "Saturday the 14th inftant, at Weftmifter Hall, your Select Committee find it fub"ftantiated by the most indifputable teftimony, that there were feveral bands of ruffians "difperfed through the Hall, who your Committee have reafon to believe were neither "Electors or Inhabitants of Weftminfter, and who acted evidently upon a concerted. ❝plan, and whofe outrages were fuch, as to endanger even the lives of perfons whom 66 your Committee have examined.

Upon the fubject which your Committee are more particularly directed to examine "into, they find, upon a full investigation and examination of evidence, that after Mr. "Fox had been fome time in the front of the huftings, and while he was addreffing "the Electors (his principal opponents being at a confiderable diftance) a canvas bag "was thrown at him.

"It appears by the manner in which this was done, and from the fingular conftruc"tion of the bag, that the intention must have been that the contents should discharge

❝themselves in the face of Mr. Fox.

"Your Committee find, that though the execution of this failed in part, yet Mr. "Fox, and many perfons whom your Committee have carefully examined, were in"ftantly and violently afflicted by a noisome powder and vapour which iffued from the: bag.

"That an attempt was immediately made by fome ruffians to recover the bag; but "that it was detained by the exertions of perfons whom your Committee have exa"mined, and that afterwards being produced at Devonshire Houfe in the prefence of "a great number of perfons, your Committee have the teftimony of gentlemen, who were immediately, upon finelling the powder at a diftance, feized with violent cough"ing and fickness, and that fome of thofe gentlemen were affected thereby for the re"maining part of the evening.

"That upon this it was determined to have the contents examined by fome eminent "Chymift: whofe opinion your Committee fubjoins.

"Your Committee have alfo the affidavits of perfons, to fubftantiate the identity of "the bag and contents delivered to Mr. Stock.

"Your Select Committee have alfo the moft refpectable authorities, which render it "unquestionable, that Euphorbium is a drug of fo poifonous and fubtile a nature, that ❝ a very fmall quantity reaching the ftomach of any perfon, might produce the most "fatal confequences.

t...

(Signed)

Godfrey Webfter,
Thomas Byron,
R. Hollingworth,
R. Fitzpatrick,

Dudley Long,
J. A. Wallinger,
R. B. Sheridan,
A. H. Shove..

The

The teftimony of Mr. Stock referred to by the above Report:

“Having examined very carefully the contents of the bag brought to me by Mr. Robinion and another gentleman, I find it to contain Capficum and Euphorbium. The "Euphorbium is extremely well difguifed, being in powder, and therefore I am led to judge it to be that, more from its great activity than from its vifible appearance: I "have examined it with great caution, and indeed apprehenfion, because I have been "frequently affected by it; yet with all my caution of stopping my nofe and mouth, I "felt its effects. My fervants who were in the place, or accidentally paffing, were in"ftantly feized with heat in the nofe and throat, and violent coughing. A perfon coming into the warehouse from the air was affected by it immediately. The quality "of both these ingredients, more particularly Euphorbium, is extremely noxious and "dangerous when applied fo as to be taken into the eyes, nofe, or mouth; it occa"fions violent and extreme inflammation, difcharge of watery humour from the eyes ❝and nofe, and violent and intolerable heat in the throat; it will occafion ulcerations "in the throat: indeed when violent inflammation is excited in any part, there is no "faying where fuch fymptoms may end, nor is there any reason why it may not pro"duce effects that will put an end to life.

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" W. STOCK, Ludgate-hill."

For the further fatisfaction of fome members of this Committee, who are oppofers of the Address and proceeding figned by Mr. Fox, the Chairman of the Select Committee, offered to enter into the detail of the evidence, upon which the Select Committee had founded their report; and at the defire of thofe gentlemen, a refpectable witness, who had not attended the Select Committee, was called in and examined by this Committee. The following Resolutions were then unanimously agreed to:

Refolved unanimously,

"That this Committee, conceiving a juft indignation at the enormity of the pro"ceedings, ftated in the report of their Select Committee, do continue the appointment "of the faid Select Committee, and earnestly request them to pursue the most effectual "methods for the difcovery of the authors and inftruments of the tumults and acts of "outrage stated in their report; and more efpecially to use their utmost endeavours to "detect the contrivers and perpetrators of that attrocious attempt which difgraces hu"manity and the manners of a free people.

Refolved,

"That, for the furtherance of this object, immediate application be made to the "Magiftrates of Westminster, and this Committee do hereby offer a reward of TWO "HUNDRED GUINEAS to any perfon or perfons, who fhall difcover the parties "concerned in preparing the faid bag and ingredients, or in throwing the fame, know❝ing the contents thereof; which fum is placed in the hands of Meffrs. Drummond "and Co. Bankers, Charing-Crofs, to be paid on conviction of any of the offen

"ders."

This bufinefs being fettled, it was moved, that, " Whereas an advertisement has ap❝peared in feveral of the public papers, figned John Churchill, purporting that the "tumult near the huftings, in Westminster Hall, on Saturday the 14th inftant, was "fuch as to prevent the perfons nearest the hustings from hearing what fell either from "Mr. Fox, or any of his friends,"

And refolved (with one diffentient)

"That it appears to this Committee, that no perfon, or number of perfons, affem"bled near the huftings, for the purpose of interrupting the proceedings of the meet❝ing, by tumult and clamour, have any right to impeach the validity of fuch proceedings, under pretence that the propofitions could not be diftinctly heard when the feveral questions were regularly put by the Chairman of the Meeting, and decided "according

"according to the ufual mode, by a fhew of hands; and that the infinuation contained "in the above mentioned advertisement can only be confidered as an attempt from the "minority who diffented from the proceedings agreed on the 14th of February, to con66 vey an unfounded imputation upon the candour, fairnefs, and impartiality, which "characterize the conduct of the Chairman, as well as of a majority of Electors affembled on that day."

Adjourned to Friday the 27th of February inftant, at twelve o'clock at noon.
JOHN BRETT, Chairman.

SHAKESPEARE MONTHLY MEETING.

This evening [March 12] there were affembled about fix hundred of the principal Electors of Westminster.

Colonel Stanhope took the Chair, and apologized for the abfence of General Burgoyne, one of the Stewards, and Mr. Fox, who were attending their duty in the Houfe of Commons, on Mr. Sawbridge's motion for a Parliamentary Reform. This was received (as it ought to be) with fatisfaction; and then the ufual conftitutional toafts were given, and drank with every mark of approbation which could teftify that the feelings of thofe prefent fprung from the trueft fenfe of real patriotifm. Between the feveral toafts, the company were highly entertained by Captain Morris, and Mr. Johnftone, of Covent Garden Theatre, who alternately fung; the one in a ftile of wit and fatire on the prefent times, which made the room refound with plaudits at the end of each ftanza; and the other with a voice, tafte, execution, and judgment, that gained him as much applaufe as man could defire. Perhaps in the annals of fong-writing there cannot be found a more pointed or a more humourous compofition than that fung by the Captain. It turned on the conduct of Mr. Pitt, and was fo humouroufly and fo poetically handled, that even the gravity of a prerogative Bifhop would have forfaken his Right Reverence, and made the head of the church laugh.

Immediately on the Houfe breaking up, which was about eleven o'clock, Mr. Fox, General Burgoyne, Lord Surrey, Lord Maitland, Colonel Fitzpatrick, Mr. Alderman Sawbridge, Mr. Sheridan, and many more Members of Parliament arrived.

Mr. Fox took the Chair, and faid he was detained by his duty in Parliament from having the honour to attend the meeting fooner. He was forry to inform them that Mr. Alderman Sawbridge's motion for a Parliamentary Reform was negatived by a majority of forty-eight, the numbers being for the motion 143, and against it 191. This defeat he attributed to the friends of the prefent Miniftry being for no Reform, and confequently voting against the motion. He believed there might be about eighty of thofe that always are confidered to fupport Administration, who on this occafion took the oppofite fide to the Minifter. He begged to retire for a fhort time, as he had not dined; which having done, he returned, and drank the health of the Independent Electors of Westminster; and afterwards that of Mr. Alderman Sawbridge.

Mr. Alderman Sawbridge, upon this, got up, and having politely returned thanks for the honour done him, begged that he might have liberty to lay a few words on the fubject of debate that day in the Houfe of Commons. His right honourable friend had informed them of the defeat of the Parliamentary Reform, fo much withed for by every true friend to the Conftitution. This defeat, he faid, was now to be entirely afcribed to the prefent Adminiftration. It was their phalanx, and the jefuitically-inftructed conduct of the right honourable gentleman who apparently prefides there, which overthrew the motion. Nothing would have been more openly apparent to the purpofe of nega L tiving

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