of the House of Hanover; and since that time it has seen rebellions, arising from difference of opinion in respect to the proper object of loyalty; but, it has seen no general rising of the people for the purpose of setting aside any part of the established Government, the Legislature, the acting powers of the State.

flag :-cruel insult on the feelings of Britons! yet, happily, this folly preserved our national colours from such disgraceful pollution.

And it was then, to the brave defenders of their country (our sailors, principally) that this flag was displayed as a rallying token! The very flag against which they had exerted all their ener

saw without giving chace to it, and to which they had sworn enmity times without number, till they had driven it off the seas? Precious infatuation, that chose this flag for its standard!-the livery of Orleans for the ensign of Britons!

In fact, the people, of themselves, have no desire of destroying the machi-gies for many years, which they never nery of the State: they know also, that their occupations in life do not qualify them for the highest duties of the highest stations: they have seen the dreadful consequences of Anarchy in another country; and they are aware that no possible advantage, to be derived from similar confusions, could This was done openly; shame did not compensate a thousandth part of the blush, nor did the weakness of commiseries inevitably attendant on popu-punction betray a latent reserve of Brilar commotion. If guilt may be separated from crime, the guilt of disturbing the public tranquillity, rests with those who stimulate the people. We do not say, that the people are not criminal; because, it is the duty of all men, and of every man, to preserve the public peace; but, we say, that those who suggest to the populace, what they would never otherwise have thought of who by such suggestion, rouze their passions, while they lull their reason are guilty in a super-eminent degree, as well of the crime, as of its consequences.

tish sentiment; but, the machinations which were proceeding in private, were such as the public could have no suspicion of. The metropolis stood in suspense when the populace were assembled, but little thought of the main spring and object which caused that assemblage. The Reports submitted to Parliament by the Committees of both Houses, have disclosed so much of this secret proceeding, as prudence permits at present; enough to convince the ci tizens of London that they have had an ESCAPE from the extreme of violence; -from seeing their city the seat of turbulence and contention, of bloodshed and battle. In this, too, the nation is included; for had London become the prey of the revolters, every city and town would have followed its fate, and the calamity would have been general, not to say universal, and moreover, universally destructive.

We are too much citizens of the world to acknowledge the justness of the phrase "natural enemy," to admit that one nation is the "natural enemy" of another; yet, we confess, that our feelings revolt at the idea of mimicking the devices of our Gallic neighbours. Whoever is so misled is a disgrace to this country; and should be banished For it cannot be supposed, that men of from its civilized society ;-but, that property would have yielded that properly any Englishman, or any number of without a struggle, would have seen the Englishmen, should adopt as their own dependence of themselves and their fathe mischievous, the bloody insignia of milies torn from them by the rude hand Gallic insanity, is what we never could of lawless violence, without endeavourimagine, and cannot contemplate with-ing to arrest that hand, and to repel out horror, Are we reduced to the that ruffian power which exerted itself dire necessity of displaying colours un-in destruction and ravage. Could those known to us, unacknowledged by us? Or do the honest badges of Britain start from meditated crime against her peaceable citizens? The signal for shedding blood was the tri-coloured

who so lately stood forward to defend their country from foreign foes, so soon forget every military emulation, and hide themselves from invaders, because those invaders were domestic? The thing is

impossible; hence must have arisen conflicts, attack and defence, murder and resistance, civil war, with all its horrors, carried into the heart of the country, and not a family safe from the aggression, and plunder, and revenge, and blood-thirsty malice, of its own labourers, of rival townsmen, of secret or acknowledged enmity, in every form.

denomination of JACOBIN. Accident brought us acquainted with them, by means of one of their chiefs; and it seems that the same plans are now pursuing by the same means under another name. What were Jacobin clubs are at present Hampden clubs. They were scenes of riot and noise; they gave occasion to ribaldry and treason in the form The metropolis, the nation, has the of songs, toasts, mock speeches, and greatest cause to rejoice at the failure other ludicrous exhibitions. They went of this bloody plot; and if language ad- further; for some of the most treasonamitted a superior degree of comparison, ble songs were sung to the tune of those unwary wretches who would have "God save the King" and "Rule Bribeen drawn in to commence these hor-tannia," in order to disguise from casual rors, have still greater cause of rejoicing; for, it cannot but be supposed that thousands were incautiously giving countenance to the revolters, and might have been excited to action, who had no such original intention; and it must, in charity, be hoped that among those who were parties to the scheme, there are not a few who in their cooler moments, shudder at the thought of the mischiefs their design included in its execution. True it is, that Religion, with its sanctions, had been rejected and ridiculed by those duly initiated at the Clubs; nevertheless, no man can absolutely banish conscience; it is an integral part of himself; and where conscience still exists, Religion is of a nature to return, to revisit the individual, not seldom by powerful compunction.

hearers the true purport of the sentiments uttered. We, therefore, can believe all, and more than all, disclosed by the Reports, though we wonder much at the mere dull spirit of imitation and repetition, which condescends to renew what has so long been scouted even by the refuse of mankind.

But, the Jacobin clubs of former years had a prodigious advantage in the patronage they derived from France: they had French agents among them, and French money; they had the then triumphant establishment of a Jacobin government in France, to refer to.Treason had been already too powerful for loyalty; and why not, again ?-and if in France, why not in Britain? Alas! that Argus-eyed minister, Mr. Pitt, had spies in these social meetings: and Nor can we easily persuade ourselves thus, he knew their proceedings; he that Patriotism, also, would not have knew, too, the agents; and he knew the revived in many a British bosom, terri- numbers which every week was reported fied at the consequences of error, and of those who augmented the strength shrinking from the contemplation of un- of these societies. Were not the preexpected scenes. The sight of a coun-sent plotters informed of this? There try destroyed, would have swam before the eyes of all but the most hardened, while life endured. These, then, have the utmost possible reason to be grateful to whatever power prevented impending evils. They ought to feel the duty of making every possible amends to their country, though the evils did not take place; and to atone for their participation in crime, though, happily, they were spared the guilt of actually committing it.

It is known to our readers that we have formerly acknowledged an acquaintance with the manœuvres of the affiliated Clubs, many years ago known under the

are still living some who could have told them, yet greater secrets;-but, it does not appear that experience had taught wisdom to the conductors of this humble imitation of former plots, having the same object.

The Report presented to the House of Lords being earlier by one day than that to the House of Commons, is the one inserted in our pages ;-but the Report of the Commons' Committee is, not only in perfect unison with the Lords, but it is couched in many places in stronger language. It discloses somewhat more of the management employed.

212

It seems that perfect unanimity pre- | Their guilty intention was the same; vailed in both Committees on this oc- but the public stood aloof from their casion, and that there was no dissenting crime. voice, on the facts of the case, or on the measures to be taken in consequence. Both Committees pronounce the undertaking desperate. The means at the disposal of the conspirators were inadequate. The mob was taken for every thing; and the people for nothing. But even the mob was not large; and that portion of it which seemed to be inclined to mischief was not over hearty in the cause, or desirous of proceeding to extremities. The undertaking was too vast for the heads which guided it; and too ponderous for the hands which attempted to grasp it.

The Reports state the manufacture and delivery of two hundred and fifty pike heads; what could these be intended for, if the meeting against which they were provided was of peaceful citizens only: yet this was but a feeble store of arms by which to overset the British Constitution. The scheme of

obtaining arms from the shops of the gunsmiths might have been available, under a regulated body; but a mob is not a regulated body, nor in a moment, reducible to regularity: the scheme, therefore, failed. Even Masaniello, who overthrew the Government of Naples by means of a few boys, and fruit women, had had his boys in training many weeks, if not months. They were taught to obey his signals ;-not merely to shoulder their sticks [muskets] at command; but to be noisy and clamourous at a certain sign;-another sign hushed them into silence. The whole insurgent populace of Naples stood silent, at a motion of the finger of their Commander in Chief.

On the intended progress of the rioters we offer no remarks. The plan of setting fire to the barracks, of liberating the prisoners from the various places of confinement, of furnishing them with arms, and preparing them by an address, are so many demonstrations of an intention, a settled intention to disturb the peace. We suppose that the person who paid the expences of these proceedings is not yet taken; and there may be a prudence also in withholding, at present, information, as to the quarter from which he obtained supply. No hint is dropped of any exalted or wealthy personage being implicated in the plot; although we suspect that it was suffered to proceed to a certain point, not without some desire on the part of Government, to know who was really the author of it, and the prime mover in it. It is more than possible that the puppets which fill the scene, are moved by wires, guided by an invisible hand. They are the actors, and they act according to their own wishes; but the instigator, or principal agent, may be concealed; perhaps he is known to but few

of the secondaries.

The chief towns in the country which were likely to be implicated in equal horrors, had the plan succeeded in London, are those large manufacturing places where workmen usually crowd together by thousands :-and the reason is clear; because in such over-populous neighbourhoods, only, could the clubs reckon on numbers. It may be strongly suspected that the lenity shewn to the Luddites at Nottingham had no small Neither was the execution of the share in promoting these dangerous soscheme so sudden that the ruling pow-cieties. Riot and tumult unpunished ers were likely to be overcome by surprise the first meeting in Spa-Fields was succeeded by riot and robbery; it was, therefore, a hint not to be mistaken, of what might be expected from the second meeting. But there was no public welcome given to the conspirators; their clamour was cheered in not a

single street: not a house was opened to receive them favourably; nor were they joined by one additional corps.

The little mis

never stop there. The temper and dis-
position which destroy the property of a
neighbour should be suppressed in the
first instance; for this is a principal end
of the social compact.
chief, gradually, but certainly, becomes
great: it enlarges itself as opportunity
offers.
The mind of the criminal is
slowly hardened; but, in the issue it
commits, without remorse, atrocities
from which in an earlier stage of iniquity,

it would have recoiled with horror and detestation.

the time will come when they and their pestiferous doctrines will be properly estimated. The time will come when the poor and private but industrious individual will bless his absence from the noisy society of those who affected to be better and wiser than their neighbours ;-those who to prove their superior goodness, cast off Morals, Religion, the regulations of life ;-and to prove their superior wisdom put their confidence in traitors who abuse their credulity with promises, which they know cannot be realized.

And now, whatever degree of guilt may have been incurred, we rejoice to think that the violated Constitution of our country affords even to those who violated it, the means, the opportunity, and the advantage of a fair trial. No arbitrary power will sit in judgment on a single life: no jury will be suborned or tampered with; neither will it be overawed, or fined, or even reprimanded. No Military Commission sanctioned by the tri-coloured flag, Happily for our nation, by far the will be ordered to find a culprit greater mass of the people hear of these guilty, and to pronounce his doom, doings with abhorrence; and this gives before he appears. The accused will be us occasion to congratulate the steadiheld in judgment by their coun-ness of our countrymen, at large, which of the try; and the verdict of that country amidst all the circumstances will acquit or condemn them. If they times-times, undoubtedly, of much have broken no existing law, no law will anxiety and distress, does them infinite be pleaded against them; and to them, honour; and will, no doubt, ultimately as to others, if they plead "Not contribute to their distinguished adGuilty," the charitable wish will be di- vantage and prosperity. rected, "God send you a good deliverance."

REPORT.

By the Lords Committees appointed a Secret Committee to inquire into certain Meetings and Combinations endangering the public tranquility, and to report to the House as they shall see occasion.

ORDERED TO REPORT,

That the Committee have met, and have proceeded in the examination of the papers referred to them.

Their attention was in the first instance

With reluctance we allude to proceedings inevitably consequent on the Reports before us. It is no small vexation the whole nation must undergo, in conséquence of the misconduct of a small portion of its members. Some-and those not trivial-of the defences of personal liberty must be set aside for a time, in order to render them permanent hereafter. The Constitution must suffer directed to those which relate to the metroa temporary breach; mach to the mor-polis; and they have found therein such evitification of every genuine Briton. dence as leaves no doubt in their minds Every man who loves his country must that a traitorous conspiracy has been formexceedingly regret the repeated inter-ed in the metropolis for the purpose of overruptions of the Constitutional order. throwing, by means of a general insurrecIt were sacrilege to recur without im- tion, the established Government, laws, and perious necessity, to such violations of constitution of this kingdom, and of effectour rights and privileges. We contem-ing a general plunder and division of proplate them as we contemplate the cutting off of a limb; if it will save lifeif it will secure the Body Politic, the operation must be submitted to. The sufferings of the Patient are beneficial on the whole; and it is, occasionally, one of the conditions of life that remediable evils should be endured, by way of avoiding irremediable destruction.

perty.

In the last autumn various consultations were held by persons in the metropolis engaged in this conspiracy. Different measures, of the most extensive and dangerous nature, were resolved upon; partial preparations were made for their execution, and various plans were discussed for collecting a force sufficient for that purpose. But at a subsequent consultation another 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 together would be to call a public meeting. Spafields was fixed upon

conver

as the place affording the greatest facilities | clubs or societies, or laboured in for entering the town, and attacking the sations, apparently casual, at public-houses most important points in the city. In pur- to work up the minds of those with whom suance of this design, and in order to as- they conversed into such a state of ferment semble in the neighbourhood of London a aud irritation as to render them, when great number of the poorer classes of the collected in sufficient numbers, for whatcommunity, and particularly of those in ever ostensible purpose, the fit and ready whose minds the pressure of the times might instruments for the execution of any probe supposed to have excited disaffection [ject, however rash and desperate. In the and discontent, advertisements were insert- course of these circuits one of their chief ed in newspapers, and handbills were in- objects appears to have been to take every dustriously distributed, inviting the distres- opportunity of attempting to seduce from sed manufacturers, mariners, artisans, and their allegiance the soldiers of the different others to assemble at that place on the 15th guards, and at the barracks. The principal of November. A large body of people ac- persons concerned in this plan actually cordingly assembled at the time and place proceeded to Spafields on the 2d of Deprescribed. The most inflammatory lan-cember, some of them with concealed arms, guage was there held to the multitude, having a direct tendency to excite them to outrage and violence; and the meeting was in fact followed by some acts of plunder and riot. A petition to bis Royal Highness the Prince Regent was agreed to at that meeting, and an adjournment to Palace-yard on the first day after the meeting of Parliament was proposed: but the 2d of December was subsequently fixed upon (on the proposition of one of the persons concerned in the plans already described) for another meeting in Spafields; and that day appears to have been determined upon for the execution of their design.

and with ammunition previously prepared they had also provided themselves with tri-colour flags, and with a standard bearing the following inscription :-"The brave soldiers are our brothers; treat them kindly." And also with tri-colour cockades, evidently adopted as the signal of revolution. After much inflammatory language, a direct invitation was by one of these persous addressed to the multitude to proceed immediately to actual insurrection: and it appears quite certain, that the acts of plunder which were perpetrated for the purpose of procuring arms, and the other measures of open insurrection which folVarious schemes were formed for this lowed, were not accidental or unpremedipurpose; amongst them was a general and tated, but had been deliberately preconforcible liberation of all persons confined in certed, as parts of a general plan of rebelthe different prisons in the metropolis: lion and revolution. There appears also into some of which, in order to facilitate strong reason to believe that the execution its execution, an address to the prisoners of those projects at that particular time was introduced, assuring them, that their was expected by some of the associations in liberty would be restored under a new Go-distant parts of the country. The conspivernment; announcing the intended attack upon all the prisons, for that day; apprising the prisoners that arms would be ready for them; exhorting them to be prepared with the national tricolour cockade, and to cooperate by the most violent and sanguinary means to ensure success.

It was also proposed to set fire to various barracks, and steps were taken to ascertain and prepare the means of effecting this purpose. An attack upon the Tower and the Bank, and other points of importance, was, after previous consultatious, finally determined upon." Pikes and arms to a certain extent were actually provided, and leaders were named, among whom the points of attack were distributed. It further appears, that the interval between the two meetings was employed with unremitting assiduity by some of the most active agitators in taking regular circuits through different quarters of the town. In these they either resorted to the established

rators seem to have had the fullest confideuce of success; and a persuasion has subsequently been expressed amongst them, that their plans could have been defeated only by casual and unexpected circumstances. Even after the failure of this attempt, the same plans appear not to have been abandoned.

Your committee are deeply concerned to be compelled, in further execution of their duty, to report their full conviction that designs of this nature have not been confined to the capital, but have been extended, and are still extending, widely in many other parts of Great Britain, particularly in some of the most populous and manufacturing districts.

At the meeting of the 2d of December in Spa-fields, that part of the assembly which had not engaged in the acts of plunder and insurrection before mentioned, came to a resolution to adjourn the meet. ing to the second Monday after the meet