6] 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1817. 



In some of the subsequent 

 speeches, hints were pretty plainly 

 thrown out of a secret intention 

 in the ministers to shackle the li- 

 berty of the subject. At present, 

 however, they kept warily on their 

 ground, ami the address was car- 

 ried unanimously. 



Lord Sidmoutli then moved that 

 the papers on the table should be 

 referred to a committee of secrecy 

 consisting of eleven lords to be 

 chosen by ballot ; which was 

 agreed to. 



In the House of Commons, Lord 

 Castlereagh made a parallel motion 

 respecting the Prince Regent's 

 message, which was carried with- 

 o\it o])position ; as was likewise 

 that of a secret committee consist- 

 ing of twenty-one members. 



On the 18th and 19th of Fe- 

 bruary, the secret committee in 

 each House made its report of the 

 contents of the papers communi- 

 cated by the Prince Regent. 



The substance of each was near- 

 ly alike ; but it will probably be 

 jyjore interesting to our readers if 

 .^^g place both of them in their view. 



House of Lords. 

 By the Loids Committees appoint- 

 ed a Secret Committee to in- 

 quire into certain Meetings and 

 Combinations endangering the 

 public tranquillity, and to re- 

 port to the House as they shall 

 see occasion : 



Ordered to rej)ort, that the com- 

 mittee have met, and have pro- 

 ceeded in the examination of the 

 papers referred to them. 



Their attention was in the first 

 instance directed ;o those which 

 relate to the metropolis ; and they 

 ha\e found therein such evidence 

 as leaves no doubt in their minds 

 that a traitorous conspiracy has 



been formed in the metropolis for 

 the purpose of overthrowing, by 

 means of a general insurrection, 

 the established government, laws, 

 and constitution of this kingdom, 

 and of effecting a general plunder 

 and division of property. 



In the last autumn various con- 

 sultations were held by persons in 

 the metropolis engaged in this 

 conspiracy. Different measures of 

 the most extensive and dangerous 

 nature were resolved upon ; par- 

 tial preparations were made for 

 their execution, and various plans 

 were discussed for collecting a 

 force sufficient for that purpose. 

 But at a subsequent consultation 

 anotlier plan was adopted, which 

 was, to get a great number of 

 men together to see what force 

 could be raised ; and it was agreed 

 that the best way to get them to- 

 gether would be to call a public 

 meeting. — Spa-Fields was fixed 

 upon as the place affording the 

 greatest facilities for entering the 

 town, and attacking the most im- 

 portant points in the city. In 

 pursuance of this design, and in 

 order to assemble in tlie neigh- 

 bourhood of London a great num- 

 ber of the poorer classes of the 

 community, and particularly of 

 those in whose minds the pressure 

 of the times might be supposed to 

 have excited disaffection and dis- 

 content, advertisements were in- 

 serted in newspapers, and hand- 

 bills were industriously distri- 

 buted, inviting the distressed ma- 

 nufacturers, mariners, artisans, 

 and others, to assemble at that 

 place on the 15th of November. 

 A large body of people accordingly 

 assembled at the time and place 

 prescribed. The most inflamma- 

 toty language was there held to 

 the multitude, having a direct 



tendency 



