Star. — London, England, 1811-01-12 00:00:00

OF WALES AND DER MAJESTY. . 'etition imon . their affairs, inner, :ising ig his admi• irecedent which PRINCE On the resumption of the House, which was about five o'clock, a considerable number of Peers was in attendance. As soon as the LORD CHANCELLOR had taken_ his seat on the Woolsack, Earl CAMDEN rose, and, proceeded to inform the House that their Lordships' Commissioners had, waited upon his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, on the part of that Houses when the Resolutions and accompanying request of both Houses of Parliament were duly communicated to his Royal Highness ;. when his Royal Highness.was pleased to return - a most gracious answer : The Answer being read. The Earl of LIVERPOOL moved, that the said lesolution, together with his Royal Highness's An swer, be printed.—Ordered. The Earl of HAkCOURT then made a similar report with respect to the Commissioners waiiing on her Majesty the Queen, ordered by the House, and communicated her Majesty's most gracious Answer. Th.: Resolution of Parliament as applying to her Majesty, and the answer, was also, on the motion of the Noble Secretary of State, ordered to tit printed. DANING OF PARLIAMENT BY COMMISSION. The Earl of LIVERPOOL then moved the order of the day i when, that for summoning their Lord •hips being read, he moved, that the House do re itselt into a Committee on the state of the nation. This being ordered, Lord Walsingham accordingly took the Chair. The Earl of LIVERPOOL rose, and briefly ob- served, they were now arrived at that stage of the proceedings when, agreeably to the course adopted on the former occasion, as he had given notice yes terday, it became necessary for that House to adopt 4 Resolution with respect to the opening of Parlia ment by Commission, with reference to the necessary ulterior proceeding. The' Resolution which he should move was similar to that adopted on the former oc casion, which was, that it was necessary and cape dient.that Letters Pattnt be issued under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, of the tenor and form as expressed in the Resolution alluded to, for the purpose of formally opening the Parliament of the United Kingdom— This Resolution, which in substance was precisely similar to that adcpted in 1789, being, on the occa• sion of its original introduction, so thoroughly dis ' cussed, that he . did not in the present instance see the necessity of troubling their Lordships with any obser vations on the fitness and necessity for its adoption. Should any thing, however, be suggested in the Com mittee that may require explanation, he was ready to. . afFordit. In substance, he repeated the main Reso lution ; and the corresponding ones, required by the necessary forms on such an occasion, were precisely similar to those voted by the House on the 51st of January, 1789.. Whatever variation there may be from the form of the subordinate arrangement in 1789, it occurred principally from the difference ari sing from the desire expressed by certain Royal Per sonages, with respect tee the insertion of their names in the Commission. Should any explanation be re quired by-any Noble Lord with respect to a detail of the proceedings, he was most willing to afford it.— The Noble Secretary of State then formally moved the first Resolution, the substance and effect of which he stated in his introductory observations. On the question being put, ' Earl GREY said, toat after the very full discus sions which had already taken place upon the sub ject, of which the Resolution now before the Com. gnaw, fozened a part, he certainly felt - it syper fluous to detain their Lordships wite any detailed ebservations. His feelings, however, on the occa sion were so strong, that he could not avoid taking this first opportunity in his power to express in go. si eral and decided terms, his strong objection to the • whole line of proceeding adopted by Ministers on this most momentous question. Unwilling as he was to add in the smallest degree to these most nn-1 necessary and dangerous delays which had already taken place, he should not remain silent when a pro position was brought forward calling upon that j - Nouse, on its part, to assume one of the most im•: pertant powers of the Crown, namely, the affixing the Great Seal to an Act of Parliament. He s had anxiously wished for an opportunity of expressing ' his most firm concurrence in the opposition afforded; ' and the sentiments by Noble ,Lords on his side of, the House, to the whole tissue of proceeding urged and adopted by Ministers. A course of proceed. ins, he contended, according to all the genuine principles and analogies of the Constitution, as well as the practice of their ancestors, as could he collected from authentic precedents, was hostil: to the very fundamental principles of that Constitution, and tending to establish a precedent of the most dan gerous tendency. The consequence and character of the line of conduct they had adopted was, char under the form of law, they had violated all the principles of the Constitution ; and, under a pretence of a scru• Diu lour regard for the rights of the Monarchy and the mita Prerogetives, had sapped the very foundation of that Sovereignty. These great conclusions, he contended, had been establishedas resulting from the conduct of Minister's, by those with whom he had the power to act, with a wisdom, with an eloquence, with a display of learning and knowledge of the can- . • 'ptittition of their country unrivalled in the annals of • -Parliamentary discussion. - With this general decla retion he would, under the circumstances, content imsell ; but he could ,Itot let the immediate clues on before the Committee pass without observing, nit if it were determined to assume those powers oxPressed in the Resolution, and to pass an Act as %bnut to be proposed, for remedying the personal de lea in t i tle exercise of the Itoyarauthcirity—lie must contend it woula be far less objectionable, even ac cording to the principles insisted on by Ministers, if they thought themselves authorized to cause the Great Seal to be affixed to an instrument for the opening of Parliament, and passing a Bill. It would be far less objectionable, he repeated, to come to Re solutiOnt for appointing his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Commissioner for opening the Par liament, for the specific purpose of enacting a.Bill to . supply the existing defect in the constitution of the country. Then would the third branch of the Legis lature be regularly formed, and they could debate the important questions at issue in a full Parliament; the subject could, in such a case, be discussed not only under the requisite forms, but according to the sub stantial reality. But as it was, he could not avoid repeating his firm conviction that the line of proceed ing chalkedout by Ministers on this mostarduousocca sion, was fatally dangerous to the Constitution, clash ing with its best principles and analogies, and finally tending to establish a precedent under the authdrity of which, in future times, a series of attempts may Ise made so as eventually to undermine all that was good or valuable in the Constitution. Lord WALSINGHAM then put the qoesticri, when Earl STANHOPE said, " Not content," in conse quence of which a division took place, when there ap. peared—For the Resolution 53—Against it 3—Ma jority in favour of the line of proceeding reeommended by Ministers 20. The doors continued shut for some time, and the adjournment took place before strangers were admitted -but we understand the subordinate Resolution (that referring to points of form) was passed without any , division. Their Lordships adjourned till Monday. The necessary proceedings are expected to be in that state of forwardness, that Parliament will be re. gularly opened by Commission (as in the caseof 1769) oa Tuesday next. The Commissioners will consist of those great Officers of State and high Dignitaries of the Church, who, after the withdrawing of the Princes' mimes,, on the occasion alluded to, were constituted the Lords' Commissioners. PP IIIII TPARLIAM.EIVTART TAOCEIDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, JANUARY it. The Duke of NORFOLK presented a Pet from the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Com! Council of the City of London, praying that t Lordships would, in the present state of public aff proceed in the most regular and expeditious man to remedy the defect in the Royal Authority, ari from his Majesty's indisposition, by investing Royal Highness the Prince of Wales with the a 4 nistration of Government, according to the prece established at the Revolution of 1688, &c. &c. w .was ordered to lie on the Table. COMMUNICATIONS TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS TIM PR A IST 1 . 13`R MA "IFSTV- HOUSE OF COMMONS. The Sheriffs of Conden presented the Petition if the Coniston Council, against Restrictions on the Regent. Mr. Alderre.in Coma; moved that it be read. It was read by the Clerk accordingly, and was in substance the same as the Resolutioni already published.—Ordered to be laid on the table. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO WAIT 'ON THE PRINCE OF WALES. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER at the Bar, reported that; in obedience to the Order of the House, the Committee had waited on the Prince of Wales, where they had met the President of the Council and the Lord Privy Seal from the other House ; that they had communicated to his Royal Highness the Resolutions of both Houses, and their request, that during the incapacity of his Majesty, his Royal Highness would accept the Regency under such restrictions and limitations as the two Houses of Parliament might deem it expedient to impose. ' To this his Royal Highness had returned an answer (for , which see a subsequent column.) REPORT OF THE COMNIITTEE APPOINTED TO WAIT ON THE QUEEN. Lord CLIVE reported from the Committee ap pointed -to wait on the Queen, that they had proceed. ed to 'Windsor with the Address of the House, to which her Majesty was pleased to return an Answer (for which see a subsequent column.) Beth the answers were delivered in at the table. STATE OE THE NATION. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, after the Order of the Day for going into a Com mittee on the State of the Nation had been read, ex pressed his wish to be guided by the course which the Gentlemen on the other side intended to pursue, whe ther to propose that the House should meet to-mor row, or whether they should adjourn till Monday. The next business would be, to agree with the other House in appointing a Commission to open the Par. liament. If a Resolution to that effect should this night be adopted by the other House, they might meet to-morrow. But if the Gentlemen on the other side meant to debate the question at any length, they were all aware how inconvenient it would be to have a long discussion to-morrow • and in that case he would propose to adjourn till Monday. Mr. WHITBREAD, as no other Gentleman had risen, stated for himself, that he did not intend to go into the subject at length. After the discussions which had already taken place, he should, as far as depended on him, think it sufficient-to protest against the measure, and declare his dissent by his vote. Being on his legs, he wished to ask, whether, in the Bill which he supposed would be brought into the House, in the early part of next week, the Right Hen. Gentleman meant to make any provison for conducting the Government in case of the recurrence of a similiar calamity, that the country might not be again placed in such a sitation as that in which we had been for some time past ? The Right Hon. Gen tleman would probably recollect, that he (Mr. Whit bread)* had given notice of introducing a measure of this nature, whether his Majesty recovered 'or not." Mr. ADAM suggested, that it would be totally improper to introduce such a measure in the present mutilated state of Parliament. What might be the intention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he knew not, but he had no doubt as to the impropriety of in troducing any such provision at present. Mr.WHITB READ said, that his Honourable and Learned Friend had misunderstood him. He had merely asked what might be the intention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, without saying that he would concur with him, if he had proposed to intro duce such a provision in his Bill. But it was proper that the House should be fully aware of all that the Right Honourable Gentleman meant to bring for ward in hii expedient. Mr. SHERIDAN said, that it would be very hard, indeed, for the Gentlemen on his side of the House to' answer positively whether there would be debate, or how long it would last. There were, however, some of them, who were bound by every principle of con sistency to enter their protest against a measure, which they had already declared was, in their opinion, of the most vital importance, and subversive of every principle of the constitution. He himself had ex pressly stated on a former occasion, that he would conceive it his duty to make a stand against, what he conceived, a most wanton and dangerous innovation on the constitution. Although he and, perhaps, some other Members might think it their duty to enter their protest, yet he did not appthend that there could be a debate of such length as to make it necessary to adjourn to Monday. The CHANCELLOR 6f the EXCHEQUER thanked the Honourable Gentleman for being so ex:, plicir. If the Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Sheridan) conceived that it was a measure on which, it was necessary for him to make a stand, it was quite impossible to foresee to what length the discussion might run, as it might be necessary for other Gentle. men to reply to what should fall from him. It being therefore inconvenient to fix on Saturday for such a discussion, he should move that the House at its ris ing do adjourn till Monday. He felt himself called on to answer the question put to him by an Honour able Gentleman (Mr. Whitbread). It certainly never did enter into his contemplation to introduce any pro. vision in the Bill of the nature alluded to by the Ho. nourable Gentleman. He conceived that the two Houses, in their present state, had net a right to go any farther than the particular case which necessity obliged them to provide for. He thought it would be extremely improper to introduce any such question at a time that the Legislature was not complete in all its parts. He concluded by moving, that the House, at its rising, do adjourn till Monday. Mr. SHERIDAN had thought it utterly impossi ble, that, after the answer - given to the Right Hon. Gentleman's question, he could have felt himself jus tified in passing over to-marrow. He had stated, that it was their intention to protest against the measure ; but he had distinctly said at the same time, that he did not think any long debate would ensue. Bt.:, oh, said the Right Honourable Gentleman, if you mean to argue and protest in this manner, you cannot anticipate to what length the debate zay be carried. Certainly he and his friends, if they pleased, might consume a great deal of time is their answers to a brief protest ; but he (Mr. Sheridan) positively denied, that any pretence for procrastination could be drawn from what he had stated ; and he repeated his decla ration, that the delay till onday was unwarrantable. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER maintained, that when the Right Hon. Gentleman stated it to be his intention to oppose the proceeding as fundamentally wrong, he WAS not only justified in proposing an adjournment till Monday, but it was his duty to do it. When he stood up and argeed 1 against the measure, as a wanton and violent inno vation, and as tending to overturn all the principles of the Constitution, it was impossible for him to say that others might not follow. him at considerable length in the same strain. He, therefore moved, that the Order for the House going into a Committee on the State of the Nation, should be fixed for Monday. The question was loudly Galled for, and tire Hou - se at length, without dividing, agreed t. the Chancelle.r of the Exchequer's motion.—Adjourned till Monday. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. SATURDAY, JANUARY 12. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. s per Cent. Cons. for money and account, 66 ex. div. Reduce/ 66d-4 per Gent. 11211-5 per Cent. 98if ex. die. Es Bills, Os. to 145. pr.—lionds, s6s. SU..pr.-onm 4+l die. PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY. . Bank Stock 2401 241 India Stock for opg. 163 • 3 per Cent. Red. 4601 India Bonds 261. Si. pr. 3 per Cent. Cons. 66/ 661 Ischeq. Bills 10s. to 13s. pt. 4 per Cent. 82111 Oneniutn 4tl dia. THE KING. " WINDSOR CASTLE, JANUARY 11, 1811. " His 81/..n.srY appears to be a little better sioce yesterday." (Sped as usual.) " VITNISOR CASTLE, JANUARY 12, 1811. et Mis MAJESTY is not quite so well this morning as he has been for some days past." (Signed as usual.) THE REGENCY. At two o'clock yesterday the deputation from the two Houses of Parliament proceeded Carlton- House to present to his Royal Highness the Resolu tions to which the two Houses, after long discussion, had agreed. The Lords and Gentlemen, all in full dress, were ushered through the superb suite of rooms to the Drawing Room, where his Royal Highness stood. His Chancellor, WILLIAM ADAM, Esq. and Earl MoIRA on his right ;tae Duke of CHMBLRLAND and Mr. SHERIDAN on his left ; behind him four offi cers of his household, Mr. TYRWIHTT, Colonel MAc• mnitox, Colonel BLoommtn, and General Tuasen. The deputation advanced according to their order of precedency. The LORD PRESIDENT, the Loan PRIVY SEAL, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, Mr. Secretary RYDER, the PRE4ADENT of the BOARD of CoN TROLL, and the MASTER of the RoLLs, and they made the usual reverences. The LORD PRLSIDENT then read, from a Paper in his hand— " That they were a Committee appointed to attend his ROYAL HIGHNESS with the Resolutions which had been agreed to by the Lords and Commons, for the purpose of supplying the defect of the personal exer cise of the Royal Authority during his MaJcsrv's illness, by empowering his ROYAL HIGHNESS to exer cise that authority in the name and on the behalf of his MAJESTY, subject to such limitations and restric tions as shall be provided. And that they were directed to express the hope which the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Communs entertain; that his ROYAL HIGHNESS, from his regard to the interests of his MAJESTY, will be ready to undertake the'weighty and important trust proposed to be vested in his ROYAL HIGHNESS, as soon as an Act of Parliament shall have been passed for carrying the said Resolutions into effect." The Loin PRESIDENT then read and delivered to his Royal Highness the Resolutions, which are as follows : Resotven, That for the purpose of providing for the exercise; of the Royal Authority doting the continuance of his Nisi tsry's illness, io such manner, and to such extent, as the present circum stances and the urgent concerns of the Nation appear to require, it is expedient, that his Royal Flighness the Ptiace of WoLu, being resident within the ream, shall be empowered to a:trete and administer the 'loyal Authority, according to the laws and Constitution of °Teat Britain, io the name, and ou behe.f of his Mai cs•rv, and under the style a.d title of Regent of the United Kingdom ; and to use, exceute, and perfonu, in time name, and el' behalf of his htti Este, all Authorities, Prerogatives, Acts of Co. verntsent, and Administration of the same, that belong to the King of this Realm to use, execute, and perform according to the Law thereof, subject to such linitations and exaeptions as shall b. provided. " Reinter a, that the pourer so to be gives to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wet.Es shall not extend to the granting of any rank of dignity of the Peerage of the Realm to any person whatever. " Resotvan, That the said power shall not extend to the gran tin, ef any office whattvcr in Reversion, it to the granting of ar.y office, salary, or pension, for other term than during hi 3 Mat its- T v's pleasure, 'mot such offices as are by law required to be granted for life, or during good behaviour. " ResoLvzo, That the said power shall not extend to the granting of any part of his Mnits - rr's real or personal sexy except en far as relates to tke renewal of leases. 44 RESOLVED, That the care of hii MAJESTY'S Royal Penns * during the continuance of his MAJESTY'S illness, shall be coma mitted to the Queeit's most Excellent Mat trrr, terther with the sole direction of such portion of his MAJESTY'S Household as shall be thought requisite for the care of his person, and that . tor the better enabling hoe M A JESTY is discharge this importan t task, it is alto expedient, that a Conseil shall be a;pniuted to advise and assist her MAJESTY in the several matters aforesaid ; and with power, from time to time, as thqf may see cause, to examine, upon oath, the Physicians and others suet - sling his M A . JE!ITY'S person, touching the state of his MAJESTY'S health, a$ ill matters relative thereto." To whick Address his ROYAL Moons returned the following most gracious Answer : " My Lord: and Gentfrmen, 44 I receive the communication which the two , Houses have directed you to make to me, of their joint, Resolutions on the subject of providing for . the exercise of the Royal Authority, during his Majesty's ( illness,' with those sentiments of regard which I must ever entertain for the uni ted desires of the two Houses. With the same sentiments I receive the expressed hopes of the Lords and Commons, that from my regard for the interest of his Majesty, and the nation. I should be ready to undertake the Weighty and im portant trust proposed to be invested in me,' under the restrictions and limitations stated in those Res*. lutio ns. " Conscious that every feeling of my heart would have prompted me, from dutiful affection to my be loved Father and Sovereign, to have shewn all the reverential delicacy towards him, inculcated in those Resolutions, I cannot refrain from expressing my re gret that I should not have been allowed the oppor tunity of manifesting, to his afflicted and loyal sub jects, that such would have been my conduct. " Deeply impressed, however, with the necessity of tranquillizing the publit mind, and determined to sub mit to every personal sacrifice, consistent with the re gard I owe to the security of my Father's Crown, and the equal regard I owe to the welfare of his people, I do not hesitate to accept the office and situation pro. posed to me, restricted as they are ; still retaining every opinion expressed by me upon a former and similarly distressing occasion. " In undertaking the trust proposed to me, I am well aware of the difficulties of the situation in which I shall be placed ; but I shall rely with confidence upon the constitutional advice of an enlightened Par liament, and the zealous support of a generous and loyal people. I will use all the means left to me to merit both. " My Lords and Gentlanen, " You will communicate this my answer to the two Houses, accompanied with my most %Tent witshes and prayers, that the DIVINE Will may ex tricate us and the nation from the grievous ern's:ar maments of ovr present condition, by the speedy re storation of his Majesty's health." This Answer was delivered by the Patxce with that must graceful and dignified deportment which so pe-, culiarly distinguish his RovaL Mott:ass. The Deputation then withdrew, viz. Earl 'HAI.. COCR.T, Earl of MORTON, Lord Viscount PALSIBR. STON, Lord Viscount Cuvc, Lord Joan TiIYNNE, and Colonel DESBROW. In like manner we understand the Deputation ap. pointed to wait on the QUEEN proceeded to Windsor, and being admitted to her Mansrv's presence, they presented the humble Addre s s of the two nouscs, expressing the hope which the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons entertain, that her i'slasestr will be graciously pleased to undertake the important duties proposed to be invested in her MaJErrY, as soon as an Act of Parliament shall have been passed : for carrying the said Resolution into effect. Lord HARCOURT read the Fifth Resolution; upon which her MAJESTY was pleased to return the follow ing most gracious Answer : " My Lord: and Gentlemen, 4g • That sense of duty and gratitude to the King, and of obligation to this country, whit induced me„ in the year F 789, readily to promise iity most earn attention to the anxious and momentous trust at tlat time intended to be reposed in me by Parliament, is strengthened, if possible, by the uninterrupted enjoy ment of those blessings which I have continued to experience, under the protection of his Majesty , ;nce that period ; and I should be wanting to all my dudes WI hesitated to accept the sacred trust which is row offered to me. 4 ' The assistance, in point of counsel and adv . ce, which the wisdom of Parliament ppoposcs to previa for me, will make me undertake the charge with greater hopes that I sn,ay be able satisfactorily to fol. I