1810.] 
majesty, the emperor, shal Suspend the pro- 
hibitory decree which shuts the frontier bar- 
riers between Holland and France. 
15. Fully confiding in the manner in 
which the engagements resulting from the 
present treaty shall be executed, his majesty 
the emperor and king guarantees the integrity 
of the Dutch possessions, such as they shall! 
be pursuant to this treaty. 
16. The present treaty shall be ratified, 
and the ratifications exchanged at Paris, 
within the period of fifteen days, or sooner, 
if possible. 
Done at Paris, this 16th of March, 1810. 
(Signed) CHuampacny, Duke of Cadore, 
The Admiral VERHEVIL. 
GREAT BRITAIN. 
The debate in the House of Commons, on 
the expedition to Flushing, after having con- 
tinued during several nights, terminated by 
four separate divisions, which took place at 
seven o'clock in the morning of Saturday the 
Sist ef March; in which a greater number 
of members voted than had ever been known 
on any former occasion ; there being counted, 
@n one division, 504. The first division was 
on the resolutions of lord Porchester, con- 
veying a censure on ministers on the ground 
of the expedition being impolitic: upon this 
division there was a majority of 48 in favour 
of ministers. The second division was uvon 
the amendment, approving of the conduct of 
Ministers on the policy of the expedition: 
Ministers had a majority of 40. The third 
division was upon the resolution of censure, 
as to the policy of retaining Walcheren so 
long: ministers had a majority of 51. Upon 
the fourth division, approving of the conduct 
of ministers in the retention of Walcheren ; 
ministers had a majority of 23. 
From this melancholy suoject the public 
attention was cortrived to be immediately 
called off by the proceedings of the House of 
Commons against sir Francis Burdett, in con- 
Sequence of a pamphlet published by him, 
addressed to his constituents the electors of 
Westminster, in which he denies the power 
of commitment for libel, recently assurned by 
that house in the case of Mr. Gaie Jones. 
For this Mr. Lethbridge moved that sir Fran- 
cis Burdett’s letter was a scand.lous and li. 
beHous paper, reflecting upon the just privi- 
leges of the house 3 and after a debaze which 
lasted till eight o’clock in the morning, the 
house divided on an amendment moved by 
lord Folkstone, for getting rid of the question 
by proceeding to the other orders of the day, 
This amendment was lost by a majority of 
191. Mr. Lethbridge’s resclutions were then 
agreed to without a diyision. Sir Robert 
Salusbury then moved that sir Francis Burdett 
Should be comuitted to the Tower Mr. 
Adam moved, as an amendment, that sir 
Francis should be reprimanded in his place. 
A division took place upon the amendment, 
‘Monturx Mac. No, 198. 
State of Public Affairs in April. 
381 . 
which was rejected by a majority of 38. The 
motion for committal to thie Tower was then 
carried. 
This was in the morning of Friday; April 
the 6th, and the sPeaker issued his watrant 
for the commitment of sir Francis immedi 
ately ; but as the principles, in the support 
of which the baronet had thus engaged, led 
him of course to consider that instrument ag 
illegal, he determined not to obey it; and 
after having refused to comply with tlie per- 
sonal requisition of the serjeant at arms to 
surrender himself as a prisoner, hé in the 
course of Saturday addressed the following 
letter to the speaker : 
Sir.—When [ was returned, in due form, 
by the electors of Westminster, they imae 
gined they had chosen meas their trustee in 
the House of Commons, to maintain the laws 
and liberties of the land. Huving atcepted 
that trust, [ never will betray it. 
I have also, as a dutiful subject, taken ch 
oath of allegiance to the King, to obey his 
laws; and I never will consent, by afiy act 
of mine, to obey any set of men, who, con- 
trary to those laws, shail, under any pra 
tence whatsoever, assume the power of the 
king. ; 
Power and privilege are not the same 
things, and ought not, at any time, to be 
confounded together. Privilege is an exemp- 
tion from power, and was, by law, secured to 
the third cranch of the legislature, in order 
to protect them, that they might safely pro- 
tect the people—not to give thei power to 
destroy the peopie. ae a: 
Your warrant, sir, I believe you know to 
be illegal—I know it to be go:, To Superior 
--force 1 must submit: I will not, and dare 
not, incur the danger of continuing volun- 
tarily to make one of any association; or set 
of men, who shall assume illegally the whole 
power of the realm, and who have no more 
right to take myself, or any’one of my cohe 
stituents, by foree, than I or they possess to 
tak~ any of those who are now guiliy of this 
usurpation ; and £ would condescend to accept 
the meanest office that would vacate my seat, 
being more desirous of g-tting out of my pie= 
sent association, than other men may be des 
sirous of getting profitably into it. 
Sir, this is not a letter in answer to a vote 
of thanks 3 it isan answer toa vote of a very 
diferent kind. I know not whut to call it 3 
but since you have begun this correspondence - 
with me, I must beg you to read this my an- 
swer tothose under whose orders you hare 
commencced it. I remain, sir, 
« Your most obedient humble servant, 
Francis Burpette 
Piccadilly, April 6, 1810. 
Those who had taken up this business, 
were employed on Saturday and Sunday in 
concerting the most advisable means of car- 
rying-the warrant into execution; as git 
Erancis 
