86 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1810. 



CHAP. VI. 



The standing Order for the Exclusion of Strangersfrom the Gallery of 

 the House of Commons, during the Inquiry into the Scheldt affair, 

 enforced by Mr. Yorke. — Motion on the Subject of this standing 

 Order by Mr. Sheridan.— Who displays the Advantages of the Liberty 



, of the Press, and particularly the unrestrained Publication of the 

 Debates and Proceedings of Parliament. — Mr. Sheridan's Motion 

 negatived. — The Vote fur enforcing the standing Order made a Sub- 

 ject of Discussion in a Debating Club, and severely censured. — John 

 Gale Jones, the President of the Club, sent to Newgate by the House 

 of Commons.— -In this Step, it is contended, by Sir Francis Burdett, 

 that the House of Commons exceeded their Constitutional Powers.— ^ 

 Motion by Sir Francis for the Liberation of John Gale Jones, — 

 Debate. — The Motion negatived by a vast Majority. — Letter from 



. Sir Francis Burdett to his Constituents, published in a Weekly Paper, 

 denying the Right of the House of Commons to imprison the People 

 of E)igland. — Brought under the Consideration of the House of Com- 

 mons. — Lotig Debates. — Sir Francis Burdett ordered to be sent to the 

 Toiver. — Delay in the Execution of the Order. — Saucy Letter from 

 Sir Francis to the Speaker of the House of Commons. — Sir Francis 

 taken from his House by force, and sent to the Tower.-— Tumults 

 and Accidents. — Sir Francis Burdett's Letter to the Speaker laid by 

 him before the House. — Severe Strictures on the Conduct of Sir Fran- 

 cis Burdett. — Resolution of the House of Commons on Sir Francis 

 Burdelfs Letter to the Speaker. — Actions at Law brought by Sir 

 Francis Burdett against the Speaker, the Serjeant at Arms, and the 

 Earl ofMoira, as Constable cf the Tower. — These Parties defended. 

 And the Privilege of the House of Commons, in the Cases to which 

 they refer, recognized by the Court of King's Bench, as Part of the 

 Law of the Land. — Addresses to Sir Francis Burdett, and Petitions 

 to the House of Commons fur his Release ; and also for that of Mr, 

 Jones from Newgate. — A grand Procession arranged, intended as an 

 Act of National Homage to Sir Francis Burdett, on the Day of his 

 Liberation from the Tower. — Sir Francis Burdett slips away from 

 the Tower by Water. — Discontents at this. — Btit the Procession goes 

 on. — Remarks on the Conduct of Sir Francis Burdett in conniving at 

 the Desigii, but declining to join in the Procession. — Refections on 

 the Practice of publishing DaUy Accounts of what passes in Parlia- 

 ment. 



AFTER the House of Com- took place which, though appa- 



mons had determined to pro- rently only of a trivial nature, gave 



ceed to an inquiry into the expedi- rise to much important discus- 



tiun tu the Sdieldt,acircumstance sion. 



