The National Register. — London, England, 1820-11-13 00:00:00

3jui3triat Oartfainent. HOUSE or: LORDS. TRIAL OF HER MAJt›TV. MOND.% NOV. . The House met at the usual hour this morning. After prayers had beets read, the I:st was called over as motel; the number of Peers present was nearly 200. The Marquis of LANS DOWN ruse, and said—" My Lords, I assure. your Lordships that I am not at ail dis posed to go at great length into the examination of this question; bus , I feel ii necessary to add a few observa tions so those I have already made before. I come to that more important feature of the case, the character of this measure. I ant anxious to make some observations On the evidence—not to go through the whole of it, but to advert to those particular puiuts to which some Noble Lords op posite have more diately referred."—The Noble Marquis here went over a great part of the evidence, pointing out its decrepancies, and declaring that where a witness had been proved to be perjured in any one point, however trivial, the whole of that witness's evidence ought to stand for nothing. He then said, he had heard many Noble Lords declare, with great appearance of min dour, that they would diantss front their minds different parts of the evidence, in consideration of the doubt fu lness of the veracity of these who gave it ; but be would tell those Noble Lostls that they were hound not to dismiss from their consideration one tittle of the evidence, in jus tice to the Queen,—(llear.)--The case of Setiegaglia, and other cases exhibiting the same character of falsehood should be kept in the c losest remembrance. It should also be remembered that the Counsel for the defence Were prohibited from going into general proofs of the existence of a conspiracy, and it sit keeping with:H.llw rubs pre scribed to them, they had elicited the fact, trot somehow or other, through all the parts in which her Majesty see sided, there existed a conviction that those who were ready to give evidence against her would get into the most sure road to fortune. If their Lordship should pre- some from what had come before them that this war the case, and that a machinery and agency existed flow the German minister down io the German waitingauaid, (a diameter as respectishlo as a German minister enemed in such si came)—if they were convinced that such an epiniosi was creetaby the examination of the testimmer i of Secchi and Cuchi, who seemed to speak so purely from the lulus of, truth, were they not bound to look upon that of.Patursoattol Garguilp, which had beets subject to such doobton likely to be influenced by sitnilar views, and to infer the general probability?—(Bear.)—The Noble Lord then spoke with refereuce to the abseuce of the Countess of Oldi and Mitrietti upon the part of the defence, wit— i nesses whom it. would have been inexpedient to call, ar the time mid place which their testimony could have em- , 1 braced, had not been sufficiently epecified, and, of course, their depositions could not lean to a distinct vouclusion. He was, surprised at a wish expressed by some Noble Lord., thist Bergatui himself should be called to the Bar. eidLoinicries of Hear, hear, hear.)—He felt no hesitatiun whatever in declaring, that whether Bergami admitted or denied all the facts charged in the preamble, it would not weigh a feather in his mind, or in the mind of any other honourable man.—(Hear, hear, hear.)—Not many years had clapped since, its a case of divorce, it was proposed to call one of the parties to prove his connexion with the wagtail who lay under the imputation. Upon that mica s*, a learned and able Judge declared, that if he were bliseolf called to give evidence with respect to a female, to; wbont he was under such circumstances, ha would con sider himself absolved from.the obligation to state the fact against tee.—(Hear, hear, hear.) —Captain Hook, it was said, had been called upon a speculation of this militia. He was sworn, but he was slot believed.—(Hear, hear.) — The Noble Lord then proceeded to make some observa tions upon the non-production of efficient witnesses by the Crown. He had conceived that, at the continence meet of this inquiry, the cause would have been conducted as the cape . of Truth versus the Princess of Wales, and he imagined that there would have been no party, except merely khe defendant. To this supposition he hail been led by the Noble Lords opposite, whit had said, that though, for the sake of form, they had taken the character of prssecetors, not a tittle of evidence which, in the course of the Investigation, should appear favourable to her Royal Higbee'', should be suppressed. lie (the Marquis of Lansdown) called up:, their Lordships to look at the nassiner in which this purpose, so expressed, had been car ried into edict. The evidettee of Dr. Holland, who stood in so peculiar a 'Bandon with respect to her Majesty—a gentleman in independent circumstimccs, and incapable of being influenced, might have been supposed to be unex ceptionable witness, mid yet he was out only not called, bet it appeased that lie had at no period before the inves tigation been asked a single question by those who professed such an anxiety, to discover the whole truth. There yet remained one circumstance ttttt re, which re quired their Lordships most serious consideration. Pub lic opinion could not appreciate all the mischiefs of this measure, regarding it as a precedent fur the future.— biome Noble Lord, who had spoken in support of the Bill, had quoted cases of Bulls for altering the succession.— Would thine who did so adsnit that a ease of presutuption was sufficient to alter the succession to the Cruwu ? Would they sliest what there was in the cast for this bill, which was not squally applicable to a case aflictilig the succes sion ? The object of this bill was said to be. to save the costatry•from the areal evil with which it was threatened the operation of her Maje•ty's vsample on the murals il es a t murals the cuuntry. He allotted to sioino4 —he leaked only to the general hypothesis thm Kings m u ch Queen+ of va rious characters sweat succeed to the 'ltemise of these realms—and were then Lou dlships to be told that when any number of individuals chose to sec its the conduct of any Individual, either its poliStAbiON of the regal dignity, or in the tiumetisate line or successful' to it, %emit us their tuindspasan uubecoi ii iii g example--were they to be told that this was to be made a gruntid for deposing mei de prival them?—Hear, hear.)—Was that a sort of prece dent with which the supporters of this bill wished to enrich the constituismial history of the comm.) ? If it was not, oil what ground could their Lordships advance further in (Isis proceeding ? Once lay Shit down as a con stitutiooal practice. and let three or four snore such pre 'codeine arrive, and we shouti come At once to Elective Mumerchy ? Their Lordships, might be muted at the term, but the fact was itisdoolsied. It was the whole pi iii• sip'. of Elective Monarchy to look at the en; et of the personal character of the iiiitivium.l elm misted with the sews of pu es . lieu etlitary tilUltatelly rested on a teinewe that the Constitution hol h .Js clinch sOic:l ~:z-. . _ ~... p . . • • • -. essminati°" of "" ‘hi. evidence, that the stroogest judic la proof of guilt had heen esi , dwished, that an adulterous inter course had been much ton sullicieutly proved --(Hear!) Ile had beard much of the popular feclitig oo the sohjoet ; but amid all the mischiefs with which the suite was threuttoted, be saw imae greater than what would teN.lll 60111 a sudden mid atrium teratioation of the preseet proceeding, instead of gm lig through With it to a just and satisfactory conclusion. The Eat! of ItOSSI•VN 1 . 40 , e amidst loud calls for the question. When lie saw agents employed to corrupt wit nesses, nod iewards h id out in provortion to the force of the charges made, most he not look at such evidence with great suspicion 1 The greatest portion of the charges had been ahandthied ;ay tine advocates for the prosecution,and yet they clung to evidence which they acknowledged to be sus:pencil. The circuutttance of Minsstels permitting the Princess to live three yeers abroad, after they had heroine acquainted with her conduct, appeared as if they connived at it. Thri lilt was nut th ought expedient when the scandal was fresh, our when the Princess lived three years iu Italy ; its expediency only commenced on her urris al in this country. Ii the divorce cbtu•e, was thrown nit, and the de,eradation of the Queen persevered ill, then might she Le loaded with the most odious epith is, and yet she, by such a decision still de elated to he good enough to be the wife of the Kirg.— ' Such a proceeding would be unjust to the King. Notwith stairllng the public opium's, and the probuiality of the Howe ' of Commas's rejectii.g the Rill, he most notice the hardship of the Queen, in brio. , subjei tea to this troublesome trial, under such manifest disadvantages, and which were a stroog aggravation of the hardships to which she was suljected. At the conclusion of Lord Raoslyo's speech, there was Is general cry of" Qu.•atiea. question I Withdraw, withdraw I" His Royal Higtmess the Duke of Clarence, from one of the galleries, appear •d most anxious to come to a division, es. claiming loudly , " Wit hdraw h" and Making a motiou with his Irtoil for strangers to quit their Liwitships' bar. Lord HULL AN 1.) ruse during the cry of •• Question !" and " W itlitLaw h" to direct the attention of the House to a point which appeared to h s Lordship to have escaped their notice. It was riot nei essary ft.r strangers to withdraw before the house came id a division. The Noble Lords, according to previous ;triangesuesit, were to vote without leaving their places, and if any l'i cr called for a division, , after the Noble :and Learitid Lord oil the Woolsack declarial a het her toe qiiest;oli wa , cart ied or oot, then strangers, accord:rig to the tonal practice. must itliniaw. The liart of LP/ EtaPtJGI. s a id it would be the dilly of the Lord Chancellor, as Speaker of that House, to sine on which side he tholigh: the majority rested ; hot as it was most probable the House would come to a division, lie con ceived the proper course winild be to exclude strangers forthwith. The House below the Bar wait then deiced of sti dozers, nod the door being closed, they proceeded to a division iibiont three o'clock. The crowd of persons without waited with a strong feeling of expectation to hear the numbers announced. Several bets were made. Some who professed to be in the secret were disposed to take the majority at SI. o,lscrs at 25 ; but the greater part of the specul.stors looked for something near the majority predicted by M. llobbouse at the St. James's Meeting, namely, about 61 or 63. At half-past three o'clock the does-keepers announced the numbers to the public to be— For the second reading of the Bill—Centents 123 Nut Contents 'JS Majority for the second reading 26 The House then adjourned till ten o'clock to-morro• morning, when a motion will be made to go into a Coin millet upon the provision% of the Bill. TVESDAY, NOT. 7. Tho Lord Chancellor took his seat on the Woolsack a few minutes before ten o'clock, when nrayers were read by the litshop of Bristol, and lie list of Petas called over Lord DACRE then rose to present a Protest from her Majesty, and said—" My Lot ds, since I came down to the House this morning, a Protest from her Majesty has been put into my hands. Not having taken any share in the debates on this painful and important questinit, and en tertaining, as I do, strong. feelings on the subject, I ought perhaps, to make some apology for now addressing your Lordships. But my opinions, my Lords, were not in fluenced by what has passed at the Bar of this My objection to Bills of Pains and Penalties for acts lung since coinnfitted, was so strong, that no evidence that could be brought forward would, in my opinion, jostlty resorting to such a measure. Having land this Protest placed in my hands, I will make nue of tart observations upon it. Whatever opinions I may have hail 44 to the nature of this proceeding, I concur twist cordially is the • first part ratter Majesty's Protest, that her tieknowledgel proseentois hove voted against her on this trial. I Loose that precedeit is may be found for such votes, and it is left to the individuals themselves to deride OH the propriety of prosectatois acting as jurors, but the cotantry will fin m an opinion 1113011 it which it is not didicult to anticipate. Her :Majesty further complains, that some of the parties who have given their voices ;against her, have not attended the trial duritit: her defence. (Ifeat, hear.) 1 will not say they had no tight to vote, if they could reconcile such an act to their consciences. Ifer Majesty then protests, before Goal, that site is wholly innocent of the ;Aisne laid to her charge and declares that she will abstain from all fat titer appe al to your Lordships, reserving to het self the fiatlter vindication of her character in another place. I stow, toy Lads, will read THE PROTEST. " The Queen 114% learnt the decision of the Lords 'twin the Bill now before them. In the race of l'oillament, of her Frailly, and of her Country, she does sole iiiii I) protest against it. Those who avowed themselves her Proseem tors, have presumed to sit in judgment upon the qiiestiois between the Queen and themselves. Peers have given their voices against her, who had heard the whole evi dence fur the charge, mid absented themselves during her defence. Others have come to the dismission from the Stet-et Committee with minds biosseil by a maw, of ,lan+lu'y which her CIIC,IIIC3 bare nut doled to 'bring forward in the light. " The Queen does not avail herself of her right to JP pear before the Committee for to her the detai!s of the ineamye mil be e matter of indifference; amt. macs, the conrse of these tetexritiykil Ilniecediligs skuntd bring tl ! • 13111 befe.e the other blanch of the Legislotiire.shc a Ol make no ref: tenet w atever to the treatment expert need by her Miring this twenty-five yeses. " She WPM, I St ill , •Iterately, ond before God, asserts that else is w lib:ocent of the crime laid to her eiiorge :mil she nee s, with iniutkoted confidence, the final result ,d* this ibloar4l,ele..l tisaWskru! • - THE NATIONAL 'REGIST ER Ilse p•isonul character of to Monitore a matter of indif fereetee.--(Hear, hear.) Once remove the line—once establish the light of inriniry into the meral aims , of the sovereign, and there would never be wanting persons to nittlerti7ke such inquiries, and by them to endanger and convulse the country. The Noble Marquis now matte all eloquent appeal to those of their Lo; thine; who might he disposed to vote for the second reading of the Bill, in the hope that it might after wag& be mitigated I and maintained, that to rely on ally sitch hope, would only lead to irreparable inconsistency. Up to this moment the House stood clear of impittaliod : a fe w hours will decide whether they would send down their names to posterity with the infemy of having, on a bare presumption, passed un art to tiegrado and to punish a Sovereign of their euttittu)! ...(Ihs Lordship PM down amidst loud cheers). 'lnc Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND could not con sent to give a silent vote un so painful and important a subject. But after attending to the whole of the evi dence, to the speeches of Cumise!, and to the argunients of Noble Lords, lie telt in his couseience convinced that a long course of ! indecent familiarities and of adulterous iuterconse had snbsied between the Prioress of Wales kill!' her servant Bergami. With This impression he could not cannot that her Majesty should remain Queen Consort of England, and at the head of the females of this chaste and moral country. He, therefore, felt no hesitation iu voting for the Bill as it tiow stood, and must iheretute give his vote for the second reading. Lord HOWARD would but consent to give a verdict against her Majesty on the evidence of Du mont, Majocci, Rastolli, and Sacchi,all of whom were discarded servants, Kress had been compelled to give es:deuce against the Queen, and the Baron d'Entle, woo would be an evidence for her ;11a jeaty , had not been brought over to this coun try. Taking into consideration these facts, lie could not vote fur !MALL This was a legislative measure, and, without yielding to popular clamour, he must say, that no law that was very objectionable should be enacted. The House of Commons, Ise believed, would never pass the Bill, and deeming it inespedient, and that tine charges had not been proved, lie would vote against the second reading. The Earl of ENNISKILLEN.—" My Lords, having been one cf those who voted with the Noble Larl at the heal of the Treasury on the first reading of th:s Bill, and having attended to the whole of the evidence, and en deavoured to understand it, I conceive it to lie such a mass of contradiction and suspicion, that I would not con vict any person un it, and, therefore, I give my vote against the second reading." Lord CALTHORPE was not surprised that, ou a ques tion which, from its very nature, admitted of every shade of moral and political consid.!ration, Noble Pt era should differ iu the particular view they took of it. Had the case against her Majesty been fully proved, and that her conduct Ind been as licentions as it was represented, yet, sinless it had been proved that she had volume' ily re 'ivied her conut.bial rights, which was trot the case, lie, even then, must think that the present was nut the proper mode of proceediog ! He would ask their Lordships if this was the time to expose Kingly power; or to pass a Bill that wrathd throw odium un his .Majesty as a husband, as a King—or as the head of the state. Was this the time to ask the Royal Assent to a measure of such an impor tant nature as tile degradation of the Queen Consult of the Throat 1 Under such circumstances, he could not vole for the Bill, or suffer it to go a stogie step farther to wards its conclusion. His Lerdship concluded by de claring his determination to vote spins' the 13,11. The dlatquia of STAFFORD, in a short speech, said he would vote against the second reading of the Bill. Lord DE CLIFFORD considered the a hole of tile evi dence for Ilse plu.ecutiou to sited with halsehinal—that in looking at the questiou, he could out help adverting to the differences winch had existed for several yeors between the accused mid the illustrious personage most ne•trly allied to her—and that eitough hail Ikea stated to prove that her Majesty could taut remain its this country with advantage mid comfort to herself. lie could not but feel that this Bill would he rejected in sonic stage or other; (Loud cries of hear !) turd, in his opinion, it would be adviseable to get rid of it ust the present iiiii uent—( Hear, hear.) Lordship concluded with deckling his resolution to vole agaiiist the seeped reading of the Bill. . . Lord GRANTHAM said that upon this great question he I ditfered from those with whom he genet:illy voted. It had been said at the Leginuing of these proceedings that the House stiould be governed in their decision by unsuspected evideoc.•.—(Hear, hear.) Ile hail attended to the evidence most miuutely, but could not give it that character.—(llear) —lf the case were a coininun one, upon nhicu a verdict of Guilty or Not Guilty were to be pronounced, he would have to consider that there had been a great deal of contradictory evidence ; but he would also have to look at the grave and heavy suspicions with is Melt the accused was oie. - whelinetl. Although he n ouid say nut content, he could nut lay his hand upon his heart and say Not Guilts.—(llear, bear.) Lord BLESSINGTON was deterioined to vote against the second reading of the Bill. Lord GOSFOItO said, to pursue the measure would be, is his opinion, extremely inexpedient. Ile, was nut atoned of popular clamour, but lie felt coovinceJ, that the feeling of the loyal part of tlie cimmunity was decidedly against the measure.—(Hear.)—lle could out see lion any man could vote for the Bill without the Dtvorea clause— (Bear, lieur)—and lie could nut ace how oily man could vote fur the Bill with that clause.—( A laugh, and cries , of bear, h.•at.)—lle elided by statiag toot he would vote against the second reading. The Duke of ATtioL assured their Lorpships he never ruse with so heavy a heart. He had attended to I lie evi dence and time rot meets, mid he must say, that lie considered the Queen's guilt proved by het own evidence. If lie did not state this to the House, feeling es he did, lie shAtild not I kink himself worthy to remain is alibi the wails of Parliament.— lle hoped the Bill would I e read a second time, ;sad lie should do all in his power to effect that object. The Duke of SOMERSET expressed his dissatisfaction at the evidence against tlw (,)urea, :mil reprobated the inter ference of Fut rig,' ro vets, is lei had mint only hero eniployed to olnuin evidence agaiiilt lacy Majesty, but to withhold evidence in her favour.—(Hear, hear )—lle called upou Ilie House to c 'der that our Itu,td Highness was it foreign Princess, and had been educated abroad ; a,aa thlt her man• uers had been notorious for their freedom. lle admitted that her conduct had been extraordinary, imprudent, and hardly to lie aceomited for; but there was imilittiA in the evi dence us litcll could leail in a guil. The Nolilto Mike concluded by stating that he di-seisted altogether from the Btl!. Lws! V ILLI: - 3! ay the! after a 'wt., : • - • sGa