his liberty to go where he pleased. This was on Saturday, Mrs. Ottiwell, a woman, naturally weak, having heard that her husband was taken into cuftody, took to her bed and mifcarried. On Monday, as Mr. Ottiwell was on his way to the houfe, being determined to fhew every refpect and deference to it, he was met by a member, (whofe name if the house chofe, he would mention,) that told him it was juft paft in the house, that he was guilty of a contempt thereof, and was ordered into cuftody again. Thus circumftanced, he was either to furrender, or run almoft a certain rifque of lofing fo dear a branch of his family as his wife. Doctor Ivory, having declared, who was now ready alfo to prove it, that if Mr. Ottiwell was again taken into cufto dy; there would be scarce a poffibility of his wife's recovery; he, of course, remained with his family. The first day of this feffion he furrendered, and is now a week confined in Newgate, without being heard in his own defence. The petition ftated Mr. Ottiwell, to be a man extenfively concerned in trade, &c. Mr. Browne then faid, that under all these circumstances, he trufted, that if the house confidered the petition fufficiently humiliating, and that he underwent a fufficient punishment, they would enlarge him; he therefore moved, that the petition be read, which passed in the affirmative, and then that he be difcharged, which being feconded, warn gentlemen of the extent to which their objecting to the bargain concluded between Mr. Ottiwell and the board of Wide Streets, might be carried. As being taken by an individual from public trustees, in the fairest manner, and in a way, he made no doubt, on investigation, would appear very laudable on their part. All the forfeited lands in this country, were taken from public trustees. The commiffioners of the revenue conftantly fet lands vefted in them by law, and they were public trustees; might not, therefore, the titles of all these be as well difputed, as that which Mr. Ottiwell took from the board of Wide Streets? certainly they might, for a more fair and impartial bargain, never was concluded by any parties. As to the bill which the honourable gentleman spoke of in fuch a contemptible manner, he confeffed, he, as a lawyer, could not fee it in the fame light the honourable member did. The bill, it was true, was brought to this house; but the bill was treated not even with the ufual decency that bills are which are not to pafs, namely, put off to a certain day, but it was refufed by the house, without being ever read.-The bill was framed by a noble lord in the upper houfe, to whom this country was much indebted for the trouble he had taken to bring this business to a final issue ; and he thought the bill deferved a better fate. What were the objects of this bill? They were three. The first was to do away doubts, that seriously were entertained, of any public trucees having a right to set or fell lands which they did not actually themselves poffefs: the fecond was to prevent the board of Wide Streets from fet ting or felling any lands, without firft fubmitting the particulars to this houfe; thereby guarding, in the beft poffible way, against any unfair or partial agreement; and the third was to confirm the take to this man (Mr. Ottiwell), who.. had embarked his all in it, and who was now after seven years, made an object of the greatest severity; by feffion after fellion his title being disputed. The confequence was, that Mr. Ottiwell's numerous correspondents, hearing of these inquiries, caused a run to be made upon him, and his ruin would be the inevitable confequence if it had not been for his extenfive credit. Much had been faid in this bufinefs as to Qttiwell only, and Ottiwell and Co.-He would beg leave to add a few words on this fubject; when he made no doubt he would fhew to this. houfe, that the public had as good a fecurity in attiwell only, as they could have in Octiwell and Co.it was this; before Ottiwell got pof. feflion of any lot, he was compelled to advance one third in money, and to give fecurity for the remainder, himself, in 20,0col. on oath, and fix others, in 20,000l. each; could any fecurity, he would afk, exceed this? Certainly not. Now how was this gentleman treated, who dealt on public faith? In advance a confiderable deal for the ground he got poffeffion of, and under rent alfo; now three years. While on the other hand, thofe who took his grounds at first, hearing of the investigation of parliament, gave them up in fear and terror, and no one came, nor could be expected to come to take more while ↑ Mr. Hoare got up. He faid no one felt more for the fufferings of the gentleman alluded to, than he did; he had much perfonal esteem for him; but he would think himself guilty of the greatest impropriety indeed, if he agreed with the right honourable gentleman for his enlargement. What! a man who is fufpected of committing with others, the grofleft fraud on the public, into the merits of whofe conduct a committe of this houfe fat to inquire, and who were prevented from proceeding in this laudable bufinefs, by the petitioner refufing to give an answer to the question put to him, which was, who were his partners in the purchase of the lands from the commiffioners of Wide Streets. In his own hand writing he refufes answering this question, for reasons, which this honourable house, did by a great majority, think were not fufficient: and therefore it was agreed that he should answer the question. Would this honourable houfe now fay, that what they did last feffion was not juft, was not right? he hoped they never would; and furely their enlarging him now, was faying fo in the fulleft manner, and therefore, for the confiftency of the house, he muft oppofe the tight honourable gentleman's motion, which he was fure he made from no other motives but humanity to the individual himself, for whom Mr. Hoare again profeffed much concern. What was the confequence? a bill was brought into the house, to confirm certain grounds to the petition, a bill that was then refused, and he trufted, ever would be refufed, and he hoped no member in that houfe, would ever again attempt to bring in fuch a bill Mr. Marcus Beresford faid he must say a few words on the subject. He rofe, he faid, to his title lay under a cloud. What does he now afk from the wisdom and justice of this houfe? why to decide upon him in any way to put an end to this business, either confirm him in the poffeffion for ever, or to difpoffefs him for ever. Determined to abide by the decifion either way, can any thing be more fair, he would ask? and therefore he would vote for his enlargement, and let the house afterwards in their wisdom come to fome determination, either to refcue a man from inevitable ruin, who has throughout depended on the public faith for his fecurity, or to relieve him in fuch a way as they may think fi Lord Edward Fitzgerald then faid he could not help faying, that in this bufinefs Mr. Ottiwell was cruelly dealt with: if fault was to attach any where, it should be to the commiffioners of Wide Streets, but furely not to him, who made the best bargain he could.-He understood he was now confined for not anfwering a queftion; this on his oath he swore would materially injure his property, by involving him in lawfuits. He understood it was part of the laws of this country, that a man could not be made to answer what would criminate or injure himself. -There was a power in the court of Chancery, to make a man answer by certain powers vested in that court, any question though it may injure him, when a title was claimed by any one to property fuch perfon poffeffed;-but this cafe was no way relevant, and for his own part he would fay that if he was afked a queftion in that house, an answer to which would involve himfelf and his property in law-fuits--he would openly avow he would not answer it and therefore, he was for Mr. Ottiwell being difcharged. Right honourable 7. Beresford faid, that in his mind no blame could attach to the commiffioners of wide streets, in the business of which he was one, as they acted throughout in the best poffible manner for the public, whofe trustees they were. So long ago as the year 1783, the act of parliament fpecified certain avenues and ftreets to be built, and having fixed a certain demarcation of that line, the commiflioners were bound to carry it into execution. Sums of money were from feffion to feffion voted to carry the fame into effect, to the amount of 81,000l. but yet no way fufficient to promote the intended improvements; on the contrary they found, that after three years, they were lofers on 81,000l. (by intereft of money and other unavoidable expences) no lefs a fum than 15,000l. and all the while nothing done!-Mr. Beresford faid, he then called upon the most experienced men and the officers of the board, for the most accurate valuation of the grounds, and a calculation of the expence of the intended works, with which he waited on the government of this country, which was then the marquis of Buckingham's, and reprefented the bufinefs to him in the light he faw it, namely, that they were run aground, and 15,000l. lost for ever, without any improvement whatever being made. To parliament they could not apply again, as parliament had nothing to give; and that if the government chofe, he would recommend it as the wife!t measure to have the whole fold in lots, the money vested with government until all was fold, and then the work to go on. Lord Buckingham much approved of the measure, but he was wife enough to fee, that however inclined government was to further the improvement of Dublin, and however just the measure was, yet there were men in this country to be found, who would pervert the best intentions, and would call this a job, and therefore he declined it. To the next government Mr. Beresford faid he applied likewife, in the fame way, and received the fame anfwer, and for the fame reasons. The commiffioners finding they had nothing to expect from government; that they were engaged for the payment of a monstrous debt, with a heavy intereft accruing; all the works they were bound to execute at a ftop; and the commiffioners with all their refources exhausted; they were ready to receive fuch proposals as would be likely to effect the object of the public. Just at this time Mr. Ottiwell happened to come forward with his proposal, which propofal comprehending all that was meant to be done, and even exceeding the calculated expence of the work to the public, the commiffioners readily embraced it as deferving their most serious atten. tion. Some years fince this business was undertaken, an idea was fuggefted by the right hon. gentleman he now addrefled, of dividing it into lots, and having the whole fold at one time; the idea was adopted, and for that purpose each lot was valued; and the first lot fet up for fale, was five houfes oppofite the custom-house, in the place called the Crefcent.-On the day of auction there were no bidders, owing, he is convinced, to combination (for which he quoted the evidence of the committee). He was not then prefent himself, but heard of it from the commiffioners who attended the fale-Finding no bidders at the feveral auctions advertised, some perfons concerned in building the new custom-house (at that time going on) were confulted, Mr. Gandon, Mr. Darley, Mr. Harman, &c. and they all agreed pretty nearly in their valuation, even fo near as 50l. within the calculation prepared for government by the officers of the board, and which amounted to fo large a fum as 102,000l. Mr. Ottiwell at this time came to Mr. Berefford, and told him, as one of the board, he would give fo much for it, upon which Mr. Beresford faid, that his propofal was too low, and that if he meant to get it, he must offer more, which alone would be most likely to induce the commiffioners to accede to it. Mr. Ottiwell thereupon fent in his propofals for the whole lots, the amount of which propofal was about 108,000l. This was received and taken into confideration, and remained before the board for a confiderable length of time, and was ultimately, after mature deliberation, accepted of. Then it went abroad that Ottiwell made from 10,000l. to 100,000l. by the bargain; and when juries came to give verdicts of the value of fome other lots, they were fo led aftray by thefe reports, that they valued them at three times their real value. The confequence was, that many persons took fome of thefe grounds from from Ottiwell at this fuppofed value, conceiving them bargains, which Ottiwell, no doubt, gained by, lo far; but in a short time they found out their mistake, for which they were likely to pay very dear. In all this the commiffioners acted for the best, and if he was to judge from the evidence given before the lords, which was of the moft experienced and refpectable men, the whole was fold dear enough to Ottiwell; for though fome lots were let at confiderable profit, occafioned by the exaggerated reports that had gone abroad, yet others flood him very high. Here he ftated from the evidence, that Mr. Cope had purchased from an individual (fubfequent to Ottiwell's and adjoining to his in the fame line of street) feveral thousand feet, with depth 150 feet, at 8s. 6d. foot, whereas Mr. Ottiwell pays for only 47 feet deep 13s. a foot. He then mentioned particulars about Drogheda- ftreet, Tucker's-row, &c. and the cause of the difference of valuation between Darley and Sherrard (the furveyors to the commitlioners) on Mr. Eccles's ground in Drogheda-ftreet, being, that one valued from two, the other from three fronts. Mr. Beresford offered this much to vindicate the commiffioners; and alfo to fhew, that under the exifting circumftances, every thing was done by the commiflioners to make an advantageous bargain for the public. Here Mr. Beresford concluded, by lamenting that the investigation before parliament had taken place, as it had retarded the completion of the works, which otherwife would have been carried into effect long fince, and has caufed a vaft additional expence already to the public. Mr. Maxwell said he felt great pain in differing from his right hon. friend on the bufinefs, as he must by fo doing vote for the confinement of a man, who he must feel for, and for whose fituation he really was much concerned; but he was aftonished to find his right hon. friend say, that Mr. Ottiwell was fent from that bar unheard; if he read the journals he would find, that Mr. Ottiwell was heard; that he refused to answer, and that for such refufal, he was judged by that houfe as guilty of a contempt of its privileges.-He would most certainly therefore ever oppofe his enlargement from Newgate, (however he pitied bis fituation) until he would anfwer the question as put to him, and therefore he trusted his right hon. friend would postpone his motion, until he knew if he would answer. Here the Speaker rofe. He faid he always felt unealy, whenever he heard an infinuation of his neglect or impropriety; and although he was almost certain from his memory, that he did not deferve two charges of this kind made against him this night, of which was he guilty, he could not fail to take shame to himself.-The first charge was, that a bill was rejected without being read; the next, that Mr. Ottiwell was fent from the bar unheard.-To refute both thefe, he defired the journals fhould be read, which fhewed that the bill was read, and that Mr. Ottiwell was heard fo far as to refuse the question last session. The Speaker mentioned, that this being a holiday, many gentlemen conceived no business would be done in the house, and confequently a number of members were abfent. Mr. Denis Browne then agreed, that the further confideration of the bufinefs fhould be deferred to Monday next.-Upon which the house adjourned to Monday. (To be continued.) Has rous'd you? barbarous fcandal of your age! And, blind to reafon, feek a fhameful fate. Oh! if the voice of one unbiafs'd, who Feels for his country's wounds, and feels for you, Can aught perfuade-paule, 'ere you farther ruth While you a moment furious paffon hush, TRY. Paufe on the pretext of your wild cancer- Firft for the caufe ?-a caufe we cannot find, Now turn-but fhal! another point your eye To woes that on your own hearts heaviest lie? If you are men, if not mere brutes indeed, The woes you caufe and feel mult make you bleed. Ah! wretch of wretches thou! who fee'ft, unmov'd, Thy eafy friend, who no reverse had prov'd,- Lately Lately with peace of mind and comfort bleft, Such the unfinish'd outline truth pourtrays Oh! 'ere it come to that--while yet the Of hunning it is your's-wafte not the hour, Vain must be your blind efforts, when you seek Since then your dark rebellious deeds appear May you once more pure health of mind in Where the full fail for ever fwells, And industry with commerce dwells! Dwells in thy shade, O bleft Queen's Square ! jon! when memory brings to view, * The churches in Bristol are beautiful models of gothic architecture, particularly Sint Paul's lately built; the roof is fupported with lofty pillars of tone with rich capitals, finely arched and fuccoed over the micdle aifle; it has fpacious galleries on three fides; the fteeple is fquare, 160 feet high, with a pinnacle very much refembling that of the Royal Exchange, London. + Thefe excellent and amiable ladies formed the circle of the author's acquaintance in Briftol. Brandon Hill is 300 feet high, and affords a good view of the romantic river Avon and city of Briftol. Houfes and gardens rifing street over ftreet, to the top; and the foundation of fome churches on a level with the steeples of others. A famous bath at the foot of Brandon Hill. The church of St. Mary Redcliff is one of the most perfect and beautiful gothic structures in England. It was finished in 1376, but part of The grotto now attention claim'd, By far more precious than the grot! A Letter from the Novel of the Relapfe. OO late my friend was your kind caution I fent, T Too late does guilty Ellin now repent ; I gave to Douglafs this too paffive hand; of the fpire was thrown down by a dreadful thunder ftorm in 1445. It is the burial place of fir William Penn, of Penn's Lodge in Wiltshire, father to the founder of Pennsylvania. *This picturefque and beautiful fpot is oppofite Clifton church; it belongs to Mr. Goldney, who politely opens it every day for public infpection. The grotto, which has a curious mofaic pavement, was twenty years forming, and coft 20,000l. The Hot Wells are a continuation of the city, and only a mile from Bristol. The place is truly romantic and picturefque. The counties of Somerset and Gloucefter almoft kifs each other. The large veffels failing up through the Atupendous rocks of St. Vincent, 300 feet high, exhibit a grand and uncommon fight.-Laft October, a gentleman taking a view on the rock, ventured too far, fell back and loft his life. The tide rifes in the Severn and Avon to an incredible heighth; at Chepstow it fometimes rifes feventy feet. And Ellin's heart, with guilt had never fighed, That life which I alas! too long have borne.- Yet oh! what tortures may hereafter give; They talked of honour; but forgot t' explain I am determined-this fhall fet me free. pain! -long--and filled with Oh! 'tis a fin repentance cannot clear, live. |