Star. — London, England, 1810-11-30 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS, NOVEMBER 29. NEW WRITS. On the motion of Mr. LESLIE, a New Writ was ordered fps the Borough of Melbourne Port, in the room of the Blight Han: Lord Viscount Lewisham, now Earl of Dartmouth. -On the motion of Mr. KENRICK, a New Writ was ordered for the Borough of Yarmouth, in the room of the Night Hon. Lord Viscount Valeutta, who, since his election, has accepted the Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds. /113 MAJESTY. Mr. Secretary RYDER observed, that the House had again re-assembled under the same unhappy cir cumstances to which his Right Hon. Friend near him had called their attention at thtir. last meeting ; the lamented continuance of his Majesty's illness having made it impossible to ,take any measure either for opening the Session in the usual manner, or for pro- Togging the Parliament to any further period that might be deemed advisable. In this dilemma his Kijesty's Ministers had thought it their duty to call the Physicians before the Board of Privy Council, with the view of obtaining from tlic-m a statement of their opinions. A copy of that statement he held in Ilk hand, and having no means of conveying to the house any information equally authentic and accu rate, he begged leave to lay it on the table, in order that it might be read by the Clerk. Mr. RYDER was about to lay this document on the table, when _ _ _ Mr. TIE RNEY suggested the propriety of making such a proceeding the subject of a question. The SPEAKER allcwel that if any Honourable Member formally objected to the delivering i i of such a paper, it could not be so delivered in without a question; otherwise .the usage of the House sanc tioned the receipt of it without a question. . Mr. 'I'IERNEY did not object to the reception of the paper, but to the form of its reception. The House were not accustomed without a question to receive any papers, except such as had been ordered on motion, or such as .were presented to them by or der of his Majesty. The present paper fell under neither of these descriptions/ and therefore, however important in itself, he conceived that the House would best consult their dignity by putting the receipt of the paper to a question. The SPEAKER admitted that the observations of the Honourable . Gentleman were perfectly correct. He had been disposed to admit the present paper w-ithout a question, because in reading the Journals of 1788, he could find no objection made to a similar proceeding. • The motion, " That this paper be now. delivered in," was then put, and agreed to amino conirthkeente ; as . was also a subsequent motion, " That it be now read." It was then read by the Clerk as follows : EXAMINATION OF THE PHYSICIANS. Council Charnher, Whitehall, Nov. es, 1 310. DOCTOR MNRY REYNOLDS CALLED IN AND Mont:, AND Q- You are desired to acquaint this Board, whe ther the state of his Majesty's health is such as to tender him incapable of coming in person to his Par liament, or of attending to any kind of public busi ness ? A. His Majesty is certainly incapable at pre sent of attending his Parliament or transacting public business. Q. What are the hopes you entertain of his Ma hsty's recovery ? A. I have very confident hopes of is Majesty's ultimate recovery. Q. Do you found the opinion, given in your, an swer to the previous question, upon the particular symptoms of his Majesty's disorder, or upon general experience in other cases of the same nature, o; upon both ? A. Upon both. Q. Whether, in that particular species of the dis order his Majesty has fallen into, it has been found from experience that the greater number of persons so affected have been cured ? A. Undoubtedly. Q. Can you form any judgment, or probable con jecture, of the duration of his Majesty's illness ? A. Nos I cannot form any decisive opinion upon this subject ; it varies in different persons, and the time has varied in his Majesty's former indispositions. Q. Whether, as tar as experience enable:: you to judge of his Majesty's disorder, you think it more F.r.4bable that his . Majesty will or will not recover, so render him capable of attending to public busi uess ? .A. I think it Mach mote probable that his MAjesty will recover. My expectation* at present are vs:) , confident of his Majesty's recovery. I speak this, however, with reference to the uncertainty that always attends medical predictions. With thisrefer ence, I should say, from what I see in his Majesty, that I have no doubt of it.. Q. What degree of experience. have you had, yourself, in this particular species of disorder ? A,. In above forty years, practice as a physician, I have seen may instances or it. Q. Whe ther any amendment has aYeady taken place in the course of his Majesty's disorder, and whether the appearance of snch amendment continnes at present ? A. His Majesty is certainly better ; and I am not sure that he was not full as well, if not bet ter, yesterday, and continues so this morning. than ham been since I had the honour to attend his Ma est,. irr illness. Sir HENRY HALFORD, Bart. called in and 'worn, and examined. Q. You are desired to acquaint . this Board whether the gate of his Majesty's health is'such as to tinder him incapable of coming in person to his Parliament, of attending.to any kind of public business ? A. I thinkit is such as to preient his tonging to Parlia ment, or attending to public business. Q. What are the hopes. you entertain of his Ma jesty's recovery ? A. I think it is in the highest de gree,probable, that his Majesty will recover. Q. Do you.found the opinion given in your an swer- to the previous question upon the particular symptoms of his Majesty's disorder, or upon general ezpenence in other cases of the same nature, or upon. ,both ? t,. Upon both. Q. Whether in that partieplar species of the dis mder his M..l.!sty has fallen into, it har been found from expetience that the greater number of, persons, - so affected, h i ae been cured ?- A. I believe so., Q. Can you form any judg ment , or probable cm. jecture l of the duration of his Majesty's I caurnt Corm a satisfactory conjecture. • • Q. Whether so far as "experience 'enables you to • jr.dge.ot his Majesty's disorder, you . dbilik, it. more 1,44,10)1e, that irs Majesty will, or will notoecoter, . s. , as i 6•• render hip . capt.l4o- of- attcuding to public tinniness A. Muth more win recover Q. What degree of experience have #4,4 roar selr in this particular specs of disoriel an the course of 19 years; utocidniunber of - casei ; sniist have fallen under my abgnizance. • Q. .Whether any apendment has already Wien place in the course *Ms Majesty's disorder, lad whether the appeal-4 . 30W such amendment continues at present ? A. A very :considerable amendment has taken place in his Majesty's symptoms : in the course of the last twenty-four hours his. Majesty's mental health has unproved ; but in the same space his Majesty has been more indisposed bodily ; but I have just reason to believe that I shall find that indis position much mitigated on my return this evening. DOCTOR WILLIAM HEBERDEN. CALLED IN •AND SWORN, AND EXAMINED. Q. Yon are desired to acquaint this Board, whe ther the state of his Majesty's health is such 'as to render him incapable of coining in person to his Par liament, or of attending to any kind of public busi ness ? A. I consider the state of his Majesty's health to be such as to render him incapable of com ing in person to his Parliament, or attending to pub lic business. Q. What are the hopes you entertain of his Ma jesty's recovery ? A. The greatest expectation of his Majesty's recovery. Q. Do you found the opinion given in your an swer to the previous question upon the particular symptoms of his Majesty's disorder, or upon general experience in other cases of the same nature, or upon both ? A. I found my opinion upon the improve ment that has already taken place in his indispo sition and the present integrity of his faculties, and the analogy this disorder bears to his former illness. • Q. Whether in that particular species of the dis order his Majesty has fallen into, it has been found from experience, thin the greater number of persons so affected have been cured ? A. I firmly believe that it does appear that the greater number of persons have been cured ' • but my own experience has not been great in that disorder. Q. Can you form any judgment, or probable con jecture of the duration of his Majesty's illness ? A. I can form no judgment of the precise duration.—ln general I should judge that the duration cannot belogn. Q. • Whether so far as experience enables you to judge of his Majesty's disorder, you think it more probable that his Majesty will, or will not recover so AS to render him capable of attending to public bu siness ? A. I feel in my own mind no doubt that his Majesty will recover, and be capable of attending to public business. _ _ Q. What degree of experience have you had your self in this particular species of disorder ? A. Very little experience. Q.. Whether any amendment has already taken place in the course of his Majesty's disorder, and whether the appearance of such amendment continues at present ? A. Considerable amendment has taken place in his Majesty's disorder, and the amendment still continues. DOCTOR ROBERT DARLING WILLIS, CALLED IN AND SWORN, AND EXAMINED' Q. You are desired to acquaint this Board, whe ther the state of his Majesty's health is such as to ren der him incapable of coming in person to his Parlia ment, or of attending to any kind of public business ? A. BS Majesty is incapable at present of coming to Parliament, or attending to any public business. Q. What are the hopes you entertain anis bit jesty's recovery ? A. I entertain very confident hopes of his Majesty's recovery. Q. Do you found the opinion given in your an swer to the previous question upon the particular symptoms of his Majesty's disorder, or upon general experience in other-cases of the same nature, or upon both ? A. Upon both. Q. Whether in that particular species of the dis order his Majesty has fallen into, it has been found from experience, that the greater number of persons so affected have been cured'? A. I belibve the greater number are cured. Q. Can you-form any judgment or probable con jecture of the duration of his Majesty's illness ? A. I cannot.. Q. Whether so far as experience enables you to judge of his idajesty's disorder, you Wink it more proilble that his Majesty will or will not recover, so as to render him capable of attending to public busi ness ? A, I think it more probable that his Majesty will be capable of attending . to public business. Q. What degree of experience have you had your self in this particular species of disorder ? A. From my earliest infancy I had opportunities of observing complaints of this nature, as long as I remained Wi der my father's roof. During the last two and twenty years Fhave seen a great variety of cases of this na ture in private practice. Q. Whether any amendment has already taken place in the . course of his Majesty's disorder, and whether the appearance of such amendment continues at present ? A. A very considerable amendment had already taken place in his Majesty's disorder, which continued when I left Windsor this morning. COUNCIL CUANDUID I WIDETZHALL, NOV. 29. DOCTOR MATTIIIIW IDAILIAE, CALLED IN, AND SWONN / AND EXAMINILD. . Q. You are deiired to acquaint this Board, whe ther the state ofhis-Majestes health is such as to ren slor him incapable of comingin person to his Parlia ment, or of attendity , to any kind of public business ? —A. I think his.ttajesty is at present incapable of coming.to Parliament', or of attending to any public business. _ _ _ Q. What are the hopes you entertain of his Majes. ty's recovery..? A. I think. it highly probable that his Majesty will recover. Q. Do you found the opinion ;given in your an swer to the .previous quesynn upon thw particular 'symptoms of hisirlajestrsdisorder,,or. 'upon geueral experience in other . ca - ses 9f the,sanii nature, or upon both ? A, I found the opiniep,.Which I.delivered as an answer to ,the second question, upon the consid&- ation of the symptoms of his Majesty, upon perceiving no failure in the faculties. of his Alajeay, upon the • soundness of his Majestrs constitution sad upon the resemblance which hit present illness bas to what I have • heard, of his fOrmer apnea of the same . chi, racter,. • Q. 'Whether in that particulas species of the, dis order. his Majesty., has fallen tato, it ha& bee., found from eapprisuce, that the greater mamba of periogs f..Adkcied,Jmve been_ cur.4o, r greater number have recovered. Q. Caa you forni.any judgulent Or probable con of the duration of his laNello iling-1- 1 7 A:::414n form no ,idea of, the Of:Wan of his Ma jestyty present indispositions. It one pi?nsi tiers what Mat Men place in his Majesty's former ilhsesa of,the ' same kind, it is probable - 414, ictna'y no; continue very long. • • Q. Whether, so far as experience enables . ypu . to judge cif his-Majesty's diSorifer;•yoraink it More pro bable that.his Majesty will, or will nut re-cover, so-as to render him capable of attendhag to.public business? ' A. _I can perceive no failure of his Majesty's facul ties, and therefore I ,presume, if tits:Majesty should recover, that he will recover with the same capacity for business as before his present illness Q. What degree of experience have you had, your self; in this particular *cies of disorder ? A. My experience has nut boon extensive. , I have been in business for 20 years, and have occasionally seen pa tients affected with complaints of the same general character as that of his Majesty. ' Q. Whether any amendment has already taken place in the course -a. his Majesty's disorder, and whether the appearance of such amendment conti nues at present ? A. His Majesty is considerably better than he - was ten days ago. He is certainly somewhat better than he was yesterday evening, and perhaps a shade better than yesterday morning. The Report was then laid on the table. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUErfeIt it his duty to rise, for the purpose of suggesting to the consideration of the House the course of proceed ing which he trusted they would agree with him in adopting. He was persuaded, that while the House mast have received a melancholy impression from the unanimous concurrence of his Majesty's Physicians, in answer to the first question that had been put, to them, relative to the capability of his Majesty to at tend to public business, they must also have derived considerable consolation and satisfaction from the re plies which had been made ro the other questions pro posed to those Gentlemen.—(Hear, Hear, Hear.) — He was persuaded that it had afforded a high gratifi cation to those who heard him, and that it would af ford a high gratifiCation to all his Majesty's loyal and affectionate subjects, to find that his Majesty's Physi cians concurred unanimously in opinion with respect to the great probability of his. Majesty's recovery However varied the language of these , Gentlemen, their sentiments were nearly the same. With some shades of difference in their expressions, they had all uniformly declared their confident expectation of his Majesty's recovery ; some carrying that ex pectation to as great a degree of certainty as could be supposed to attach to any thing human and ne cessarily contingent. The next point to the expecte. tion thus joyfully held out of the recovery of his Ma jesty, a point of not less importance to the feelings and happiness of his Majesty's subjects, was the opi nion of the Physicians that there was a fair prospect of his Majesty's recovery in such a manner as would enable him safely to resume the direction of public business. On this part of the subject the House must have heard with peculiar pleasure the particu lar details of Dr. Heberden and Dr. Baillie. Dr. Heberden had declared that he founded his expecta tions of his Majesty's recovery, on " the present in tegrity of his Majesty's faculties ;" and Dr. Baillie " on a consideration of the symptoms of his Ma jesty's disorder, and perceiving no failure in the fa culties of his Majesty, and on the soundness of his Majesty's constitution." The House and the coun try, therefore, had not only reason to indulge the pleasing expectation of his Majesty's recovery, but to be assured that, notwithstanding the advanced pe riod of his Majesty's life, and, notwithstanding the circumstance of the present indisposition of his Ma jesty being the recurrence of a former one, his Ma jesty's Physicians expressed in their statements an earnest confidence that his Majesty would recover in sufficient energy to discharge the high duties of his station, and that he would regain a sound con-i stitution, and an unimpaired state of mind. The next interesting point in the examination of the Phy sicians to which the House would direct their atten tion, was the probable duration of his Majesty's ill ness. On this point the Physicians had given their opinion with a caution and a reserve which might have been expected, and which did credit to their testimony. They had stated themselves generally to be incapable of exactly determining. One said that he could not satisfactorily conjecture ; but, how ever uncertain the period, it would be found, by re ferring to the examinations of Drs. lleberden and Baillie, that those Gentlemen were of opinion that the duration of his Majesty's illness would not be long. There was only another point which it was material to. consider, namely, the progress which ' the House had a right to indulge in • believing, and which, indeed, they were assured, his Majesty had al ready made. To the questions which had been pro posed to his Majesty's Physicians on a former occa sion, a new question had been added. It was some consolation to reflect that it was a now question. It was some consolation to find that there was a present propriety in such a question. Unt4tiinately, at the period of the examination of his Majesty's Physicians in 1788, no symptoms of abatement in his disorder justified the introduction of such a question, as that which had now been proposed. The manner in which it had been answered evinced its propriety and ne cessity. Dr. Reynolds declared " That his Majesty was certainly better, and that he was toll as well;" if , not better, on the day hefore, and continued so : th at . morning, that he had been sii.ce he had had the ho nour of auending him." Sir H. ailford was of opt nion " That a ctinsiderable amendment had taken place in his Majesty's health; in the course of the last 24 hours ; that his Majesty's mental health had' very much improved; although.his bodily indisca,ii tion had somewhat increased, an indispositio6, how ever, which he had reason to suppose, would he soon abited." Dr. Hebeiden declared," That he thought his Majesty considerably amended." Dr. :he same. Dr. Baillie, examined the day after the ether Physicians, expre sse d hi s conviction, ," That. his Ma j esty was considerably better than he was ren days ago—that he was somewhat better thin yesterday evening,and a shade better than yerserday. mocning,r - Letihisi siatemoit of Dr. Baillie': beconueared with ,that !neat on the preceding : day by Dr, Reynolds, 4 , That up, to the time of his expoination his Majesty WAS as well, if not better, than he had been singe he ;;tad had the hiiiumr of attending him ;" and from that comparisoli the Haas* wttld derive n th most pleasiug aasnranCeot his bfileistes progressive amend ment- With shim infonniikk before them—with the moral tertainti.of his Ma/eft?' re cover , present indisposition—with the cenridenr that recovery would be attended by 4 Crorn ration of the vigour 6f . his Isfajes: f'. iti , soundness of his constitution —wi t h tie that a considerable ounendinent had all place ie hii Majesty's health, alihou l uncertainty asito the period when his co, ' velescence might •be expeetede-wit!, ;4 1 irsgsatfid.impressions the Howe had no \ mite on the course which it would he mosi for them to pursue. They bud to drermi it would.be.proper -for them to take imme, Ito supply the existing deficiency ie theesf Royal authority, or whether it would ni .expedient under the present circumstar view also to give a facility to the speedy his Majesty, to pause and to allow a fur..., while an expectation.,-a hope - -ier even a 'peered of the accomplishment within that au event so desirable. In proposing.to the two questions for their serious comitierati, be allowed to say thatahoir present situa of extreme calamity, and deeply to be Ix was aware that the House had only a cl ficulties. They had only an alternative was for them. to alleviate as much as i evil by their dikretion and wisdom. circumstances, he did not presume to 1 he could offer any proposition that wou, from criticism or objection, but he die; on a view of the whole case, the House act in a way more consonant to their o' and to the feet?ngs of the country, than ii rate exercise of their discretion, to allow interval,during which the expectation whi cherished might be happily realised. W, he should recommend another adjournmen; teen days ; feeling that that re "::t be a • rant period, and that during that period plishment of the - object for which the H( country so ardently prayed, required that should be agitated as little as possible. to declare, however, that at the expirati on rind to' w hich he recommended the House unless such an amendment should take i Majesty's health as to afford a reasonable speedy recovery, he should not consider with the public interest farther to delay liamentary steps to supply the deficiency cutive Government. Before he sat dow advert to someobjections which it was be made to his proposition. He had been understand tljat it would be urged, that that proposition, the House would act ' to the precedent of 1788, and in dereliction . duty. With respect to that part of the objection related to precedent, he could not conceive man could so misapply and misconstrue r dent of 1788, as to suppose that it would dieted by the adoption of the present —ln 1748, the House proceeded to an don of their own, conceiving justly that t. no right to take any steps but on information they had themselves obtained. Ter wadi' - him to propose a departure frau suck a ' Were he standing there to propose of a proceeding, the effect of which would than for ad interval (however he might ' short), to dethrone the Monarch, he . it impossible that the House could commence proceeding without an inquiry into the: by themselves, and carried on in the most i satisfactory" manner . When he had used I " to dethrone the Monarch" for a time, however he knew that the royal authority must but the removal was equally to dethrone. the House had not the present satisfact,_ tion imparted to them. Progress of amendmeni there was none ; 'now a con fi dent expectation ' 1 tertained of his Majesty's recovery—a probabilh isted that that recovery would not be long and an assurance was given that an amendment . actually commenced. The cases, therefore, were not ' analagous. If the House were now called upon to sup ply the deficiency in the executive authority, then in deed the precedent of 1788 would be applicable. But could it be contended that for the mere purpose of suspending their proceedings, the precedent of 1788 required the formality of an inquiry instituted by them selves ? Directly the contrary. The House would hare the goodness likewise to observe, how the question is 1788 terminated. They would find that after pro ceeding for three months ; that after the discussions 'hall ripened into the Regency Bill, which had pasted through the House of Commons, and was in a Cern: mittee in the other House—the bare statement of the Lord Chahcellbr, on the 19th day of February, 1759, of the amendment of hi: Majesty's health, was thought sufficient to induce an adjournment for five or sic days. A second statement of a similar nature occa. sioned adjournment, and by successive adjournmens the Parliamentary proceedings were suspended ma the 9•11 of Mardi. It thus appeared. that on the ha. statement of his Majesty's amended health, widest any formal inquiry into facts, the measures in cos. I temptation at' that period were suspended for dux ‘seeks. He certainly could not say—would to Go that he could !---that the examinatiou of the PhYs l ' dens, which had lust beea laid en the table by his Right Honourable Friend, proved his Majesty's health to be as much r,:coveleti :is it was when Lcrd Thor. `low made the declaration to which he had allud ed. He bad adverted .to t:iat ocetirrence, in answer to those who night fpund their objections to the pone proposition, on what they would .term present. to she . _ ithat in the course nano recommenciedby his Majelt/I1 Ministers, they were not. justly chargeable with !hi .40144 m of any piece:lent wherever. App 6 ' I therefore that du :House were not called upon. oo 7_ by precedent, 9r by Coestitutionel principles , to do any thing but exercise their 1 sound . disc:tame oa tol sithject, which s o unhappily for the public intestate' i quired their decision, he thought that he amid l id advise a course by which their wisdom could bso l s' `cleal clearly maeifeeted, than by rnovieF..“ Til t ._ st r. rly the House do adjourn to this day factor', r. WHITBREAD, adverting to the '.., lion mmde by. the Right Honourable Gentleinsh7 he had heard of intended objections . to h i arr ties a) adjournment, observed,,that he* (Mr. h..d understood, before he came dOwn to ; 1 7, sa . that it was in the•coutmplatios of ii Ari gi 0 Geutletpan to propom ; sue 4djacceskostv l. ''' s e IMd . *-en told - that the -term at . that 1 `r flaummeat %gold be fir half that CiA le lits always att . nds me% ence, I should say, twat I have no _dou Q. What degr yourself, in this pa In above forty yea seen may instance: Q. Whether an place in the cours whether the appear at present ? A. I, I am not sure that ter, yesterday, and hos has been since I jesttirr this- iiiress, Sir HENRY HALF Q. You are des'n the state of his Ma him incapable of cc ex of atteoding.to I thinkit is such a ment, or attending Q. What are tl jesty's recovery ? gree,probahle, that Q. Do you.foun saner to the previc symptoms of his N espenesice in other both ? Upon 1 Q. Whether in order his Itt..l3ty 1 froro espelience th so affected, have b Q. Can you for jecture, of the dur caunot form a ia Q. Whether jr.dge.ot IViajc N 4 wisle, that lvs s. , is to render hi , huriness ? A. Mt will recover. • • recovery from • y ►eomp;eter . ird V, 1. I/1111d and b in in Vail the , had already 4• althou g h r ,,.. 11 hs comylete with all ti.tv: . had now t„ bee most expo,,, determine %; :r ; . irttruediatt: the exerci,e ould not be atm:tuners, ve t , stt speedy recov ery „ a further intere4 even a chanc e bin that interval .., to the 'douse...L.,: ideration, it situatioa wa, )be Lomita cb my a choice oidit native of evil. • :h as possibk th km. Under sa ne to suppose • , tat would be tr. J o he die; ;!rink , House could a , - , 1 their own feelia. , than in the t ) allow of a f . ion which had !d. With this h , ournrnent for fi be a very impor A period the acc , the House and t red that the pi ible. He was t . tpiration of the . House to adjo. , b. d take place' in sonable hope of )asider it consist o delay taking Rciency in the at down, he w. , vas probable w , had been given. -! that by a . d act in opposi dereliction of .. the objection , t conceive that an ;construe the p. , it would be oresent prnposi d to art in idy that they . 7 information ar would it be inch a precedent. ch would be no alight hope to ' •fi e thotad bola commence such* ) the facts 'agitated he most formal and ad used the phase ime, however short, must be supplied, iethrone. In 1788, tisfactory infanta. A amendment thee expectation was en. r—a probability"' b e long retarded; in amendment had