Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/112

 98 History of the Radical Party in Parliament, [1807- on the famous Walcheren expedition, the loss and disgrace attending which had powerfully affected public opinion. In order, as he said, to prevent the charges against the Govern- ment and the commanders being made public before the replies could be made, Mr. Yorke, ministerial member, enforced the standing order for the exclusion of strangers. On this, Sheridan moved for an inquiry into the propriety of this course, and was defeated by 166 to 80. This decision created a good deal of discontent outside, and among others the members of a debating society called the British Forum discussed the subject. The president of the society was Mr. John Gale Jones, who published placards announcing that the exclusion of strangers was an attack on the liberties of the press which ought to be censured, and announced further debates on the action of Mr. Yorke. This was held to be a breach of privilege, and the printer was brought up to the bar. Dean, the printer, gave at once the name of the author, and Jones was ordered to attend. On the 22nd of February Jones appeared, and after saying that at the time he issued the placard and conducted the debates he thought he was in order, he now admitted that he was wrong, and threw him- self on the mercy of the House. The House was not inclined to show much mercy ; Dean was reprimanded and dismissed, but Jones was committed to Newgate for a gross breach of the privileges of Parliament. A more important claimant for the distinction of martyr- dom on behalf of the liberty of the press now came forward. Sir Francis Burdett called in question the legality of the whole proceedings against Jones, and on the I2th of March moved that the prisoner should be discharged. Only the most thorough-going members of his party went with him on this occasion, and he was defeated by 153 to 14. From this vote he appealed from Parliament to the people. His speech in the House had been violent, but he republished it, with additions still more reckless, in Cobbett's Weekly Register, and accompanied it by a letter, in which he denied the right of the House to commit for breach of privilege, and asked