Star. — London, England, 1814-08-01 00:00:00

I , PiIRLIAMENT-IRT PROCEE..DINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, JULY so, JUDICIAL 'RUSIN ESS. Their Lor.iships at ten o'clock:when the Royal Assent was given, by Commission, to the following Bias : •I he Scotch •;i:it it Duty Lill, rite Thames Polce, the Cu.stonas Selz," t.„ the CLray :.arrutng, the Laud Tax Redemption, the hliii,i.t, the Post liaise Duty, the Irish I\,l:lit;a Pay, the Lisp Yeomanry, the Irish Militia Training, the 111,11 Seditious rlee:iost, the It .I.stault, the Local Poor, the Expiritig Laws, Ltt tr. tam Iheaziting Powder, the Cordate Ltuttaty, tho!Offender: Eserpt., and the Dr,ls Attrotati , ”l, Bias. "Ihr Vote of Cr:;da. sit:l die licius4 M:ittki hilts were read a third tkae. The LORD CHANCELLOR, in closing the Ju dicial Business of the Session, by postponing the cAusca which were yet unheard, observed, that of shout S,i) cases which had been heard hi the present Session, there were none ca which judgment had not been given, except sir, of which two had been postponed At the desire of the parties, and two under particular circumstances. The remaining two were postponed from the extent of the question involved in them, respecting contracts, on which it was most de,irable to obtain the opinions of the Judges in this port of the kingdom. His Lordship lamented, in touching on the subject of Appeals in Scotland, that the Court of Sessions there were not in the habit of referring to a Jury cptestions which related to fact only. The effect of the contrary practice was, that the House of Lords had to determine on complicated appeals from the decision of the Court of Session, with respect to the merits of which his Lordship professed himself utterly ignorant. His Lordship concluded by expressing his hope that the trial by Jury would be gradually introguccd into Scotland. Earl STANHOPE expressed great satisfaction at all that he had heard tIPJM the Noble Lord (the Lord Chancellor), and at the manner in which the judicial business of the preamt Session had been dispatched. Be wAs perfectly satisfied with what had been said respecting the trial of facts in Scotland, and wished it to b entered as a notice for the next Session, that he' should move for leave to bring in a Bill on the subject ; on which his intention was to introduce the trial by Jury in cases, in a manner in which neither the parties nor the Courts there could object to it. Their Lordships then adjourned to one o'clock. The House resumed between one and two; a great cumber of Ladies were then in the Peers seats. About two o'clock his Royal Highness the PRINCE REGENT came in state, and entered the House in prGcession, attended by the Marquis of lizarvoun, Lord Chamberlain ; the Marquis of lArtsciravrcu, Groom of the Stole ; the F b irl of CIU)LNIONDELEY I Lord Steward ; and all the accustomed attendacts. The Duke of WELLING roN carried the Sword of State. His RoYat. Hionsi.ss being seated on the Throne, in his lull roses, and with his hat on, with his at tendants arranged on each side, and the Peers pre sent being in their pl ices, habited in their robes, Sir 'CIIONIAS TYRWIIITT, the Gentleman Usher of the Bleick R0..1, was directed by the PRINCE REGENT to go to the Commons, and signify his Royal High neis's con m Inds, that that House should attend in the Hvuse oi Lords. Shortly afterwards, the SPEAR= of the House of Commons, in his ful dress robes, aecc.mpanied by a nber of 111:•mbers, came to the Bar. The SPEAKER, holding in his hand the Vote vf Credit Biil, addressed the PRINCE REGENT in the Speech : gg May it pirate your Royal Higiness, gg We, his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal sub. jests, the Commons of Great Britain and Ireland, do ncr.v attend your Royal Highness with our last Bill of Supply for the service of the pressnt year. 4 4 Assembled at a period when the fate of Europe was still doubtful, and balanced by alternate hopes and reverses. we-have been anxious, but not inactive spectators of those great transactions which have wrought so fortunate a change in the state of the civilized world. 44 ' During this portentous interval, we have pur sued our legislative labours, according to our accus tomed course, applying practical remedies to the prac tical evils incident to old establishments, or arising out of new occurrences, in some cases proceeding ex perimentally by laws of a limited duration, in others collecting such mtterials of information as may lay the gmand fur future mei...:res ; and those who may come after us will see traces of that progressive im provement, which t:ee sober habit of this country cau tiously, but not reluctantly, adopts into the system of its domestic policy and jurisprudence. 66 With respect to our Financial arrangements, by the proviJent measures of a former Session, we have been enabled to refrain from augmenting the bur thens of the people, and at the same time to make our military exertions corresponi with the scale of passing events. Whilst we have been thus employed, the desti nies of Europe have been gradually unrolled before our eyes: and the powerful Nations of the North, sending forth their collective strength to try the last issues of war, whilst Great Britain and her Allies were with equal vigour advancing from the South, their joint efforts have at length accomplished the downfall of the.greatest military despbtitm which in modern dayi has _disgraced and desolated the earth. In these arduous struggles, we can look back with just pride on the discharge of our high duties. The Dritish army, modelled upon a wise sYsttris, steadily aid adminigeted ar home, and-conduc tad by contummaeilieliaand valour in the field, has borne its'comPliti share in the glorious conclusion of this long and eventful war; and his Muksty's faithful Commons have gladly lent their aid to main tain the honours and dignities of those illustrious c otri maners, whom the Wisdom ..f t h e Sovereign has called upon to bus wend his Throne. 46 la the peace whit It has since followed, the efforts o f t his country have been not less glorious. The wise and liberal policy of our Government, which an staancej justice and eqUatity of right, to be the basis of ma diplomatic systelli, has been happily sustained abroad. •' Tbc British name' r,ew stands high in policy its arms ; and an enlightened people has justly ap plaudei! the firmness andvemper which have conci liated and cemented the interests of Allies, sheered the doubtful, animated the veaious, and united the deliverers and the debetred in st peace honourable uErid advantsgeous to all the cornracting Posers. " The r vents of our own times have outrun the clainary march sof history. Peace restertd, com merce revived—thrones reestablished, the weU.fonn• ded hope that the same councils and the same mas ta-hand so mainly instrumental in the work hitherto accomplished, may at the approaching Congress ex tend and fix the work of peace throughout Europe; and a further hope, that the earnest and universal prayer of this great country may prevail upon the nations of Europe in re-establishing their own happi ness, to concur also in putting au effectual end to the wrongs and desolation of Africa. Auspicious, however, as our present state may seem to be, the instability of all human affairs for bids us to be to confident of its prosperous continu ance. Mach yet remains to be done in Europe, and we have still one contest to maintain by war—a war which we can never consent to terminate but by the establishment of our claims, according to the maxims of public law and the maritime rights of this empire. To provide for these branches of the public ser vice has been our last care; and the Bill which I have to present to your Royal Highness is intituled, An Act for enabling his Majesty to raise the sum of three millions for the service of Great Britain, 6 and for applying the sum of £200,000 British cur , rency for the service of Ireland ;' to which Bill your faithful Commons, with all humility, entreat his Ma jesty's royal assent." he SPEAKER then presented the Vote of Credit Bill, to which the Royal Assent was signified, in the accustomed form ; as also to the Militia Pay and Clothing Bill, and to Dandas's Divorce Bill. The PRINCE REGENT then &livered the following Speech : 66 fly Lords and Gentlemen, • . " I cannot close this Session of Parliament with out repeating the expression of my deep regret at the continuance of his Majesty's lamented indisposition. 66 When, in consequence of that calamity, the powers of Government were first entrusted to me, I found this country engaged in a war with the greater part of Europe. r% I determined to adhere to that line of policy whicl. his Majesty had adopted, and in which he had per se% erel tinder so many ant such trying difficulties. The zealous and unremitting support and• assistance which I have received from you, and from all classes. of his Majesty's subjects ; the consummate skill and ability displayed by the great Commander, whose services you have so justly acknowledged ; and the valour and intrepidity of his Majesty's Forces by sea and land, have enabled me, under the blessing of DIVINE PROVIDENCE, to surmount all the difficulties with which 1 have had to contend. T have the satisfaction of contemplating tbe full accomplishment of all.those objects for which the war was either undertaken or continued ; apd the un exampled exertions of this country, combined with those of his Majesty's Allies, have succeeded in ef fecting the deliverance of Europe from the most gall ing and oppressive tyranny under which it has ever laboured. "'1 he restoration of so many of the ancient and legitimate Governments of the Continent Affords the best prospect of the permanence of that peace which, in conjunction with his Majesty's Allies, I have con cluded ; and you may rely on my efforts being direc ted, at the approaching Congress, to complete the settlement of Europe, which has been already so an 'piciously begun ; and to promote, upon principles of justice and impartiality, all those measures which may appear best caculated to secure the tranquitli:y and happiness of all the nations engaged in the late e• I regret the contir•uaoce of hostilities :•rich the United States of America. Notwithstanding the un provoked aggression of the Government of that cobn try, and the circumstances under which it took place, I am sincerely desirous of the restoration of peace between the two aations, upon conditions honourable to both. But until this object can be obtained, I am persuaded you will see the necessity of my avail ing myself of the means now at my disposal to pro secute the war with increased vigour. " Gentlemen of Me House of Common:, ." I thank you for the liberal provision which you have made for the services of the present year. 66 The circumstances under which the war in Eu rope has been concluded, and the necessity of main taining for a time a body of troops in British pay upon the Continent, have rendered a continuation of. our foreign expenditure unavoidable. You may rely, however, upon my determination to reduce the ex penses of the country as rapidly as the nature of our situation will permit. " My Lin!: and Gentlemen, 66 It is a peculiar gratification to me to be enabled, to assure you, that full justice is rendered through out Europe to that manly perseverance which, amidst tLe convulsions on the Continent, has preserved this country against all the designs of its enemies, has augmented the resources and extended the dominions of the British Empire, and has proved in its result as beneficial to other nations as to our own. His Majesty's subjects cannot fail to be deeply', sensible of the distinguished advantages whiCh they' have possessed ; and I am persuaded that they will ascribe them, under Pnoviugmcr, to that Constitu• tion which it has now for a century been the o t bject of my family to maintain unimpaired, and under which the people of this realm have enjoyed more of re -a liberty at home, and of true glory abroad, than has ever fallen to the lot of any nation." Then the LORD CIIANCCI.LOR I by the PRINCE RE GENT'S CcollThllld, said— My Lords aid GeNiktieu, " It is the command of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, a cting in the name and on behalf of his Majesty, that this Parliament be prorogued to Saturday, the 27,11 day of August next, to be then here holden ; and this Parliament is accoruingly prorogued to Saturday the 27th day of August next." His Royal Higlineu. 'aowed, and the SPEAKER and the Commons having made their obeisance, withdrew 4rom the bar. The kiniNce RrorxT (pitted the House in prices• s;on, in the same firm as on his entrance, and the Peers and Ladies !Aired. HOUSE QF COMMONS. At ten o'clock :he S►eAsra 'wend the flout,. In a few mi nute. afterwards the Deputy Usher of the Mack Roth summed the House to the Host of Peers, be hesitate, and the few Menthe's pres►nt aecordirgly afforded. On their returo the Speaker informed the House that the Royal Assent hid s,„" given, by CoutetLwi..n, to a number of Albite bills, (for which see out ttetort of the Prflredioss In the Hotl.e of lArrib) On the moti.in of Mr. CANNING, new writ was ordered to be Issued for the city of chiclrester, us the IlqUel of the Might Hos. W. Huskies's, who glom Ids deeds* had accepted the (dace of one of the Comadsokowas of bee kdoksty's Woods and Forests, and Laud Revenue. On the Motion of Mr. ARBUTHNOT, a nee writ was or dered to be issued for the Borougkof Aldborough, in Yorkshire, 1 in the room of H. Dawkins, Esq. who since his election had ao cepted the Chiltern Hundreds. Mr. Lambe, from the South Sea Company, presented the half yearly accounts of the said Company.—ordered to be prihted. No furrier business being before the House, the Slicakcr then . left the Chair during pleasure. At about twenty minims before two o'clock the :speaker re sumed the Chair. A Petition v.e4 presented frost certain electors of the Borough of Grampound, complainirg of an undue return for the said Borough.—Referred to the Committee to which the former titions on the same subject had been referred. THE PRINCESS OF WALES. Mr. TIERNEY, seeing u Noble Lord opposite in his place, wished to ask him some questions on a sub ject of great public importance. It had been cur rently reported, that her Royal Highness the Prin cess of Wales had made an application, through his Majesty's Ministers, for permission to return to the Continent. Whether that apelication bad been made with a view merely to a temporary visit to her Royal Highness's brother, at Brunswick, or whether it was to be understood as involving an intention on the part of her Royal Highness to leave this country altogether—in either case, he could not contemplate it without deep regret. Unquestien• ably he could conceive the possibility of the exist ence of such a claim on hor Royal Highness as would demand her temporary preference of another country, although it required the utmost strain of his imagination to do so. It, therefore, the Noble Lord should reply, that her Royal Highness's absence would be but temporary, and i: the Noble Losd would pledge himself to take proper precautions for insuring her Royal Highness's early return, be should have no great objections to the visit. But if •he should find that it was the intention of her Royal Highness, as expressed either by bet self, or by any 1 • lof the Ministers of the Crown, to leave this country for the purpose of taking up her permanent abode on the Continent, against such a step he must protest most solemnly. The present was not a time that would admit of many observations (the Usher of the Black snag every moment expected), but he could not, refrain from *lag the only opportunity which was afforded him of declaring that he stood perfectly clear from any interference or knowledge on this subk•ct. This he felt himself to be the more imperiously caVed upon to state, because, on the recent question ss silt respect to the augmentation of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales's income, be and an Hon. Friend of his, not then present (Istr.Whithread), had been the only two Members on that side of the House who had taken an active part in the proceeding.— On that, and on every other occasion, in which the consideration of her Royal Highres.'s situation bad been involved, be had uniformly and distinctly de clared that so far from having either directly or in directly advised her Royal Highness, he had never in his fife uttered a single word to her Royal High ness, and had never even had the honour of being In troduced to her. That declaration be solemnly re peated, because out of doors it was not impossible but that an impression of a contrary nature might be made by what bad occurred. For the increase of htr Royal Highness's establis'iment he certainly had voted; but he protested that he had not done so on mere pecuniary grounds, but becsnse site c-nceived, that by obtaining that additional grant her Royal Highness would chew the world, that she had the countenance and support of the House of C m mons, and that they considered her to be entitled to their protection. But if, at the bottom of Vat proposition, there existed any arrangement savour ing of an understanding that the public sh iuld be deemed to have paid the rice of her RI yat High ness's quitting the country, in that arran g ement, if it did exist, be solemnly protested that he had no hand. He would not have voted for the addi tional grant bad he supposed such a thing possible. He was sure the House would not have acceded to it had they supposed such a thing possible. He was sure that the House acqu.esceo in the proposition only because they wished that tier Royal Highness should be enabled to maintain her,renk with aueepate splen dour in this cs.untry. If any such scheme us that to which he had anodes! was 'actua:l, in contemplation, he trustefl that the Noble Lord was nut a party to it, and he hoped that the Noble Lord would take care that the public should not be burdened by its conse quences. He repeated his conviction that Parliament hail not entertained eny such idea as to vote an addi. tional income to her Royal Highness for the purpose of its being spent abroad. The only justifiable ground of that vote, even in its reduced state, was, that it was necessary to the proper splendour of her Royal Highness in this country. If, notwithstanding, her Royal Hi g hness should go abroad, he trusted that the Ministers of the Crown would take care that no remittances should be sent from this country without the leave of Parliament. He bad been induced to make these observations by the persuasion that the course which he had pursued on this subject had ex posed him to much misconstruction, from the effects of which he was desirous to guard himself by once more solemnly protesting against die,departure of her Royal Highness, and ca lling on Ministers to prevent any remittances from being tent abroad, without the sanction of Parliament. Lord CASTLEREAGH confessed, that he felt great difficulty to determine in what light he was to ' consider the observations which the Honourable Gen tleman had just made. He had understood the Ho. nourable Gentleman to say, that he wished merely to ask some questions; instead of which, the Honour able Gentleman had thought proper to make a speech, and a speech of considerable extent. As to the ques tions themselves, he must say, that the Honourable Gentleman was a little unfortunate in his selection of the person to whom he addressed them. An Honourable Friend of the Honourable Gentleman's, not then present, must he much better acquainted with her Royal Highn ss the Princess of Wales's in tentions, being much more in the confidence of her Royal Highness than he (Lord C istlereagh) had the honour to be. For his part, he knew nothing of lu-r Royal Highness's intentions; all he knew, was, that her Royal Highness had signified to one of his Ma jesty's Ministers, in order that it might be communi. sated to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, her Royal Highness's intention to go to the Contin:•rt. What the Honourable Gentleman's motives had been, in voting for the late addition to her itoyal Highness's ,income, he knew rip;; bet be wits persuaded, that in Royal Highness in this wan. non of imprisoning her R try, or of preveutieg her Royal Highness frum red. agreeing to that proposi tion the House bad Imo hats ding wherever conside rations of her own pleasure ur conven i e n c e might induce her to take up her abode. Mr. Tic RNEY was sure that the H ouse must be snrprised to hear from t he Noble Lord that the resi dence. of her Royal Hig hness the Pule( ss of Wales in England was to be co nsidered an imprisonment. The Noble Lord had just declared that he did not know what were her 1t0y.. 1 Highness!' intentions in going to the Continent. This he would say, that when her Royal Highness applie d to his Ma j esty's Ministers on the subject they betra y ed their trust if th;y did not inform themselves thoroughly of the na• tun: of her Royal Highness's intentions. As the pro. ceedings of the House would necessarily b.: interrupted in a few minutes he felt it to be a point of candour to abstain from fluidal a camber of other observations which presented thentsel vent° his mind, but to which it svotel be impossible that he should receive Pity reply. He wa; sun: the I itt the:: recent grant had never contemilated the slept ture of her kepi Higehnrds from t his c , o uetry..—(mr. Rose kntshed sadly. j. The Right Hon. Gentleman seemed mightily enter. tained at this declaration. Perhaps the Right Hon. Gentleman knew more of the subject than any of dr•rn. Perhaps he might be able to tell the House what were her Royal Highness's intentions, although the Noble Lord had not been so. He would say no more than again enter his protest against his 181 jesty's Ministers allowing her Royal Highness to quit the country without completely ascertaining her Royal Highness's motives. acd vtithout taking measures to iosure her early return. Lord CASTLF.REAGH, in explanation. ob. served, that no one could suppose he bad used the werd " imprisonment" in its strongest sense. If any illiberal attempt were nntee to prevent her Royal Highness fiom quitting this country it she thonglit tit, then in that sense he might be allowed to say that she would be imprisoned in this country. Mr. ROSE said that his mirth had Leen ex.....ited by the most extrivagant, not to say the most absurd. statements and assertions of the Honourable Gentle. man. The Honourable Gentleman was perfectly ' free to explain what were his own motives for voting for an increased allowance to het Royal Highness d.o Princess of Wales t but when he proceeded to identify the House of Commons with Wok*. and nnequivo. silly to declare that it was the senseof thit House not to allow her Royal Highness to go oat of the court. try, it was impossible to listen to any thing A "Mod. Bally extravagant without being provoked to a smile. Mr. TIERNEY expressed his readiness to iota,* to all the imputations and misrepresentations of tta Right Honourable Gentleman and his friends, per. fectly satisfied as he was that there was not a think. ing man from one end of the island to the other who woald not feel the greatest alarm at the step which her Royal Highness was about to take. With respece to his Honourable Friend (blr,Whithread) who had t ot; n for flde n g he , been described by the Noble Lord as being in pos. riearblavy.,l highness's e session his i 0 Honou rable l lhad only that he had not advised her Royal Highness to quit the country, but that he had roost earnestly atis voted her not to do sit. Here the conversation dropped. ILAVIt TRADE. Mr. LOCK HA RT presented a Petition from the Mayor 4nd Corporation of the • city of Oxford against the alave Trade.—Ordered to lie on the table. COMMIRCIAL INTERCalltrt WITH ?RANCE. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT wished to ask his M.ijesty's Ministers a question. It had been recently rumoured that a proposition had been made by the Government of France to the Gethaerraent of Eng land to admit all articles the respective predate of the two countries, reciprocally, on the payment of a lest duty—he believed 10 per cent. ad "dorm. From chit prop•bition such great advantages seemed likely to arise to Gem Britain, that he wished to know who. ther it had actually been made f IF it had, be hoped it had been met in a similar spirit of lberality oq our part. Land CASTLEREAGH replied, that the Hon. Baronet might rest assured that any proposition made to the British Government which was founded on the principles of a liberal commercial intercourse with other nations would certainly be received with the ut most cordiality and attention. It could not be ex• pected, however, that he would at present state any thing with respect to any precise proposition that mi 6 ht have been made by any foreign power. XORWA Y. Mr. W. SMITH asked the Noble Lord whether he was aware, or if he was aware, whether he though; it tight to say, if there would be any impediment to the ditcunion of the affairs of Sweden and Norway at the approaching Congress t However the urgency ut the extsting circumstances might at the time seem to sanction it, titre was err t.iinly a large body of in dividuals in this country who thought that our 'I reaty with Sweden. as it respected the annexation of Nor way. to that power, extremely unjust ; and he WAS persuaded, therefore, that it would give great and ge nyral setistact►on if the Noble Lord could feel justified in holding out a hope that this unforttuutte might probably be put in a train of arrangement. Lord CASTLEREAGH sans he could not Wk. upon himsert to give any re t oy. um* mom Sir FRANCIS BURDETT presented a Petition from a person who had been aire&ted on a Mesne Pr: cessauti confined in the King's Bench Prison, but had since died there, praying that that mode of wrest mi t Ott be abolished.—Ordered to lie on the "l'a'ke. !'he Usher of the Black Rod then made his sp. pearance and summoned the House to attend his Royal airiness the Prince Regent's speech us the House of Lords. On their return the SPEAKER took his seat at the Table, and beckoning ad the Alembets around him, lead .1 copy of his Royal Highness's speech on pro. roguing l`arl►.tment, (tor which see our Report oldie procee,:ings of the House of Lords) attar which they squirmed. 12.1.1. car OF Tilt PLAT-Or; ICIL CO%IIIiFTF-go—" Hay. ing inspeced the said Onice. And eX.4mined Upon tt . e se;ot the principal person. concerned in the several de. par tments, and received such further infornurion as the nist head of their inittiry reqn.red, And a t e ad. vanced period of the session ailns , , e d, are or opininn. teat the ' , meta l'os!-ollieu is instrflicien', in point of J space dud cionvcnkn:c s Ice c %tying on the estens!ve