The National Register. — London, England, 1820-07-09 00:00:00

118 Parliainent. -de r notygE OF LORDS. etoxuav, JULY 3. The Special Constables' and the Quarter Sessions' App eal Bills were read the stoma time. Issotvestr Dmorons' Bitt.—Loral AUCKLAND gave make, that he should move the second veining of the Insolvent Debtors' till to-morrow. Foss:ins 'lnane:a-The Marquis of LANsiDOWNE. as Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Trade, presented a Report respecting one branch of that important inquiry. he Noble Margins, in moving the Report do lie on the table. begged their Lorilgiiipe wolsod allow hen to offer a few obsorea geom.. He lied n induced to adopt the course of reporting from time to time she views of thz Committee, as the subject referred to diem comprised various lute:cgs. Commeremil, financial, and in.lnufacturing regulations. were equally the sub ject of inquiry; but it appeared desirable, that those who had to propose a Bill, should have tile oppartinity of seeing distinct pitmen: as they same before the Committee. fins was the first of the reports which would be made to the House. and it would be found to embrace particular points submitted to the Com mittee. The Noble Marquis abstained from making any pm position upon it. Ile felt that he should not discharge his um> , if he did not state that the Committee entertained a strong opinion that some measure ought to be adopted to promote the interests of the manufactures and the consumer. All the interests of commerce were in suspense. Parliament consequently would not fail to entertain a Bill to regulate those interests. Some pasts of the evidence submitted to the Committee had led to suggcs florist which were worthy the attention of the House. It was impomible to make any regulation in general po lic y without tMrence of opinion, but the House wool(' no doubt agree with the Committee tie the view they had taken as to that which was most conducive to the interest of the Empire at large. The Committee, in contemplation of that interest, had considered the expenditure of chases of persons who had embarked capital for years past without advantage. They had felt it their duty to ray down the great principle on which this question was to be decided. They had endeavoured to render the proceeding cue *stem with the existing interest of the nation. The Noble Marquis adverted particularly to the duties on timber, in which Committee recommended a relaxation s and havingexpressed a hope that die Lords would not delay their determinauon beyond the tune necessary for due consideration of the various matters under enquiry, cuncluded with moving the Report be printed. Lord LLLENBOROUGH said, it was impossible for any Membei of the Committee who had attended to the evidence, not to be sensible of the distress which pervaded all classes. The Co. 'mince had recommended the increase of the duties on cubi cal umber, _ and opening the Baltic trade. On those the noble Lord thought the House might proceed to legislate with out delay. The motion was agreed to..seAdjoureed. TIJUSDAY, JVLY 4. THE QUEEN. REPORT OF THE SECRET COMMITTEE. This day Mr Earl of HARROW BY, Chairman of the Secret Committee, appointed to examine the Papers re lating to the Queen's conduct abroad, laid on the table a report of the malt tit their investigation. The Noble Earl made no prelinduary remarks, but merely moved the report be read. It wits aceoidingly read by the Clerk at the table, It was headed,- "Report of the Lords' Committee appoint ed to examine Papers laid before the House of Lords by commaud of his Majeety, and report to thereon." The Committee having examined, with attention, the dog ;meats laid 'refire them, they find that these docu ments, supported try the testinguay of persons residing in other commas, deeply affect the {MOW Or the Queen, charging her Majesty with an adulterous cauuection with a fureiguer and a menial servant; also with a long course licentious coilduct.—These charges appear to the Conunitiee to affect not only the honour of the Queen, but the dignity of the Crown, and their opinion is, that it is neeessery to institute a solemn enquiry. The Earl of LIVERPOOL rose, after the report had been read, and gave notice of his intention to bring in a bill to-morrow, uu the subject 'godlier of the report. — The Noble Karl at the saute time intimated that tone could be given to suit the convenience of the Illustrious Person whose character was involved in the proceeding, but he should state hie vie ws inure at large to-morrow. — He concluded by moving the Lords be suitinsoued to at tend the House to-more ow. Earl GREY said, he considered himself bound, as a Member of that Huust, to see impartial justice done to the Illustrious Person who was the subject of the Report. He repeated the objections he urged on a Isomer oceasiun and coutended that the Illustrious Person accused did not stand iu the mops ejudiced situation in which she ought to appear before the House. The accusation was made by pia sins who wete responsible, yet a Secret Committee of Lords could out decide oat the act Miatitm without a meld fest inconsistency, pei hope injustice. The (-Image 'nought asaitost her Mojests the Queen was that of an adulterous connexion with a menial servant, and a hang course of ii et ntionsueas. Nothing could be inure distressing to the Lelings of any man. The Committee informed the House tnat the elogoges called imhapensably fur enquiry, mid it that tiecesstty existed Irmo the beginning, all compro mise was impussibie. The Report came from a Ceiuntit tee partly composed of Ministers, who had notwithstanding endeavoured to eumprinuise with tile Queen. They luau slept over the evidence one whole year, during which the puulic laiml had been kept iu a dish acted state, and not only the honour of the Crown, but perhaps the safety id else country, endanges ed. The Queen stood iti a situ:limo ander the., coal gev In which no lierSUlll ever stood before. Stir was aci wird, and mast be heaitl to her defence ; yet Lefore nelenee could be heard she was prejudged my the Secret Co...mince. evidence was received a int ent allowing the Unveil an opportunity to she w the Cha racter at . the *Cat 'se's. By the decision of the Cotunuiice the Queen Was put and it wu u t.l be three mouths Uelule she could make her defence What apology emi to ttott hleuse oder fur a proceeding so tepid, which to eidg tell int! Qom tai iitr. übjtei ul e i t sciatt 'pint ra-pciar e r.deuce. 'T he Nook Coot heed -:red lout , evolllll be give h ..ur Alaksty e our Ilia tei.eri The ape( it. gl'a would be 'tun 14 the Union, vt.tim list of lie o iae•nes against her. He expiessett all mien that ,duper tone was aecesaary. It *wilt' lie gi hojostier to prim. ed betuie her Majesty or, luny e pared. his abject was to protest agiiiiist the whole pi imeedises, amen lie coma:acted a mouton UI law and j tnitiCe. 'flit lard of HARI:OW.ISY said, he should not adopt I he toile the Nemo. Lail lead assumed. Toe Noble tart stated, that Ins Alajeets's CrOVelliehelll had acted oitn gross Injll , llce to bier .i\lajesty. Toe House Would nu dotal)t consider that comment as unfounded. It eve' there was a proceeding in winch he had a right to aseuuie THE NATIONAL REGISTER that the general opinion of the House mite favourable, it was that which the Noble Eat I so 'multi iteprecated. Earl fitlEY explainosts lie repeated Intl it was a ease 'Welt Minielere could net compromistewithout a violatien of duty. • 'the `e'..ai I of HAIIROWHY said, if it hail been possible to keep the Queen from renting to Eng mild t o disturb the public tranquillity, esery Immutable mast would have consented to sacrifice his own coestitntional consistency, rather than agitate the quo-lion. When the (Nitre came over, there was Ho alternative. An applicati ~,, Par !ism cot was IllinVOilla Mr. He had a better °einem of Parliament than to suppose they would consider the report in any other light than that of a verdict eiveu by is Grand Jury. liwatices had occur' eel its whit Ai charges of this description, against persons in legit swim's, had not been brought to trial fur seven years. The tsound inflict ed by the repot' of the Committee must have been given by the bill which the Noble Ea' I was to present to morrow. The Earl of CARNARVON denied that the Secret Committee stood in the situation of a Grand Jury The t viticuee neon v hich they suede their report would lint have been received by a Grand Jury. Tiie subject wnuld involve a most painful enquiry, and if the Noble Lords opposite should proceed atilt the Coronation until it was eecitled, it would occasion ilis.atisfact UM in thr poodle need, already too li agitated. It was nut to the Icel. ing of clantutous auui dangelons 111111 that lie Mild& d, bum to all classes of nicii, mho siete looking to the pi oveed• lugs of Parliament upon this 1110111elit.nei uojeci. H. submitted whether it would Hut be wise., able to 1 ,1).1111)11r the Coruna lion. If it was brunglat on in the pi el , hi %Id I e of public feeling, the joy um{ has uHaly prevail amongst all his :tinjesty's subjects woulo be ilia ...• . to discord and discontent. Earl DARNLEY objected to the proceedings of his Majesty'. Goverauseat Earl GREY again explaineA, and observed that lie 11411 [maid no argument elated 11 the Noble beds, %%Inch could justify then: in COlOl . lll Mit to pity the QtlVell 0 0 d 0. • a year taken front the pitons., for the sole ;twist:hie 01 remaining abroad. It seemed that she was at heel whilst away from this remelt)), to indulge in the hero tionsness imputed to her majesty, but the stioniesst she .1' foot in England, the evideuiee was to be brought memos her. This was no family difference, as it had beets de scribed. It was a high state crime, and it was the ono of his Majesty's bliiiisteis to make it the subject of pot ent% proceedislg, whether the Queen was in England or upon the Continent. The Earl of LIVERPOOL maintained that it was a public evil to bring forward the charges against her Ma jesty, and if that person had abstained from coining to England, it would have been the duty of his Majesty's Ministers to abstain from bringing furward the charges. This was the opinion of eiuety-nine out of a hundred. Nu Statesman, no man, would have proceeded in such a case without necessity forced him on. The Marquis of BUCKINGHAM supported the pi o ceeding by secret Committee, the House, in his opinion, having sanctioised it in their vote. Lord lIOLLAND could not admit that the House was implicated in the proceedings of ellitieters, who could never he justified in their design of making a sacrifice of 50,0001. of the public money to keep Ilse Queen abroad. It was, on the whole, a proceeding delogatui y to the dig nity of the Ci own, and the honour of Pathmmeut. The conversation then finished, and the Lords were summoned lor to-morrow. wEDSESDAY. JULY is The House of Lords. in consequence of of having been engaged to day in hearing appeals, did not meet until live o'clock. Alter several Sills had been brought up from the Commons, Lord HOLLAND rte to present a petition. winch he lishl in his hand, against the Alien Act. Ile was totally unacquainted with the pawns who had signed it ; but from its nature. he felt himself bound to move that it be laid on their Lordship) table.— The Petitioners stated that the provisions oi the Mien Act might be applied must injuriously in the course of the investigation which that House was about to institme, and which at present SU much occupied the attention of the country. Tracy gave Min.s ters the absolute power either of keeping or sending out of the country such witnesses as bier Majesty might deem necessary for her defence, while a secure and peaceful residence might be given to those on the part of tier accusers. Time Petitioners, tilereiore, prayed, that the Alien Bill should not be passed, or, at lea.t. that such clauses should be intioduced as would prevent the evils which they mentioned. His Lordship cuncuned in the &Stem of the Petition as constitutional and necessary to ensure substantial justice to her Majesty. The Petitioners were certain inhabitant) , of te eitinitester Tug Queer.—Lord DACRE rose to present a Petition from her Majesty the Queen. in consequence of the extrtairdinary report whiten Mid been made by Me Committee of that House.— Her Majesty stated that she had weighty matters to iiige, which, SO far as she could understand the nature of tin! charges against her, it was ab,ulutely necessary for her utfence, that their Lord. a'aips should ue put in possession in it at the present stage et time proceemegs. Her Majesty nieretore prayed that bile be heard by Counsel at the liar of the Howie. /le (Lord Dacre) was perfectly unacquainted with the CifellintstalleCli alluded to, but trusted the Queen's demand would be granted. It was pro. bable 04 the blt.S.AtlitiOnti winch her Counsel had to urge might expedite and tacitness the proceedings in the important case which engeg , d is much of their attention. Lord LIVERPOOL imalti nut help remarking upon the ex traordinary nature of tie advice whic h had in thus instence been given to the Queen. He ass at a loss to know how she became informed Mum t irocetsiings of that i louse. It was utterly am possible to hear Counsel iii this stage of the business. It her Majesty would wai until the bill, wince he had given notice of, was submitted to the House—until the best step in the proceeding against her was taken—he would then move tdat a copy of that Bill be laid before the Queen, and her atatosty'r Comael might then regularly urge whatever they had to state mexisawy for net defence. teed DACRE assented to the course which the Noble Lord had einuted out WAS. probably, teem a:idly correct; but when the high station and peculiar arctunstances of the illustrious individual allude , : to were considered, lie trusted that her Ma jesty's demand would not on such grounds be reused. 'And ELLEN litlltOU(stl could not co:Avg that the high station of the illustrious individual in common should at all weigh with the hiouse. No le eater tacility should be given to the Queen than to the lowest subject in the State; and he would titeraure vote agaimt the 11111t1011. teat tatleY said, filet .he iiouse was platted in its present cilibarriesinng situation ey hie con.duci lit Alitsters in sending the charges 41,4411itit time Q.ncen hb a i•weret Committee. Ile agiettl in the gehcrai prlist , ults Leal own by the Noble Lord who spoke Loa. ilia there were peculiar circumstances in the preterit case, deserving of attention . Sic was shunted es no other individua' 01 tank heel be , di, .8 modern itild..s--us no ot;tes subject td this country could be with respect to that House. The motion on the prayer of hue Miisty's Petition was nega. Wed without a diyisizi. BILL TO DISSOLVE THE ROYAL MARRIAGE, AND DEZ TIME VIE QUEEN or HER PRIVILERES.--Tlis Earl or I.IV ERI4IOI, then said, it was his painful duty to bring in ear Bilj.of_ythich he had given notece.wThe principle of the BM `would chllectid from the slaanible, and it would be for those wtioni it concerned to disprove the allegations in it. As the lima would conic ftw the illustrious Person to make her defence, it was far front his intention to urge any thing that might produce more prejudice in the public mind. The noble Easl defended tha proceeding adopted by his Majesty's Ministers on this un happy occasion, and oboarved, if he was to renew his steps, he should re-tread the some ground again. It had been stated on the best legal authority, that no judicial proceeding could be maintained in this case, consequently there could be no impeach. nient. That being the case, and impeachment out of the ques. tion. the Bill he bail to introduce was the properproceeding. By !met euesutturio l'arlimeati, the proceeding nsigiit arise in either House, but it was better it should originate in that House. The only question had been, whether this Bill should be breught in on the responsibily of Government, or by the recommendation of a Secret Committee. He had inquired into the subject, and is ISM evident that a proceeding of the kind should not be introduced on the ipso devil of Ministers of the Crown. It was said the Report on the table went to prejudice the Illustrious Individual. Undoubtedly it did prejudice her to a certain extent, but it was the unavoidable consequence of every proceeding of this nature. The Bill, said the t.,, le Earl, proceeds to deprive the Queen of her titles, rank, and prerogative as Queen Consort, and dissolve her marriage. This is the nature of it. There are no penal consequences. It has been formed not to fall with unnecessary seierity on the Illustrious Individual. The enacting clauses of this Bill may be altered according to the circumstances which may appear to the Committee. The sense of the charge will appear in the preamble. I trust your Lordships will, on this as well as every other -proceeding, insure the respect and confidence of the country. I propose to read this Bill the first time this day, and I propose that a copy oh' the Bill may be Mrwarded in a respectful manner to her Alajesty. Your Lordships will perhaps not proceed with the second reading fo: two or three days. until we know what the fsclings of the Liustrious Person are on the subject of her defence. 1 should prise:he to fix a day on Monday iitst, for fat cher proceeding. It was the duty of the House to meet toe. questisn with firmness. It was some satisfaction to know, tear during a period of near two hundred years, there had not he. a a Insper of satanic against any of our Queens. Her late Majesty was a pattern to ad wives. They had a painful duty to perturni, and could not shrink irons it.—The Noble Earl then moved the first reading of the BilL It was accordingly read, and appeared to be a Bill to deprive her Majesty of her title and privileges as Queen of England, and to dissolve her Marriage with the King. The preamble stated, that her Ilisjesty.shen Princess of Willis in 1814, beingat had in her service one Bartholomew Bergarni. A degrading inti macy was held between her Majesty and this Berge:M. She not only advanced him from a menial situation in her set vice to this rank of an officer, but bestowed on him great and extraordinary favours, and obtained fur him an Order of Knighthood. While he was in her service, the Queen, regardless of her honour. conducted herself with indecent familiarity and freedom, carrying on an adulterous connection. and a long course of licentiousness. in violation of her duty to his Majesty. as well as her character of Queen. The Lords spiritual and temporal, in Pitchman* as sembled. declared, therefore, that her Majesty. after the passing of tote Act, should be deprived of her title of Qum, anti her marriage dissolved and annulled. The Earl of LIVERPOOL moved, after the Bill had been real, that a copy of it be sent to her Majesty by her Attorney General. Earl GREY rose to ask whether any additional information was to be afforded the Queen, as without more particular evi dence of the charges than the mere statement in the Bill, hes Majesty sould not be able to meet the actuation. The Habit Earl also asked if the Queen was to have a list of the witnesses against her. The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, it was unusual to gives list of witnesses in any criminal proceeding. meept High Treason. Full time would be allowed her Majesty to prepare to answer the charges by witnesses at the Bo: of the House, when the Lords at in Committee on the Bill. He was not aware of any aduitional infonuation that could be given. Lord DACRE then adverted to the Queen's Petition, and moved that Counsel be called to the Bar to state matters neces sary for tier defence. The Earl of LIVERPOOL considered the motion at that time quite irregular. but haul no objection to consent to Counsel being heard to morrow.—Adjourned. Tann/way, atest 8. Tits QUEEN.—Lund DACRE presvated another Peti tion trout her Majesty, equest Mg, the preseut state of the question, to be heard by Counsel. 'Cue Petition was lead by the Clear, in substance as follows:—" The Qoevit has heard with inexpressible as.. tomslouesit,lliat a Rill, tending io deg rade It er,and dissolve her MAI ridge, has hei n brought into the House of Lords, ,slate her Alajes'y has no Counsel to ossert her tights. The alleged utferice is curtained its the Report of the limit Committee on the Paper. The Queen' is further iiifuitned, that her Counsel is refused a hearing at the Bar wt pot tits ellipOrtillot to her defence, and that a list of Witsie,atii arc to tue dented her Majesty. Uhder sliest CUMA•IIICUS the Qurru donate whether she has any 1:011fAe left than to protest against the whole proceeding. She is, however, %stators to make one mute efi'ort, and in that view requests her Counsel may be heard at the liar." lie LOAD CHANCELLOR, said, this was a case of the utmost torportatice to all who might be accused before that House. The Petition was nut fpocitic, and did nut slate what points Counsel have to speak to. It was Cou ltas.), to all precedent, that Delete the proofs had b. it ink:need to warrant the sec I sealing of the 110, list defence should be entrust iota, for that di-teeter magus never be necessary. The question, Iherelutr, was not Wit Hier Comisel should be celled but lie should move that Counsel be called in, and instructed what points they mir to speak to," asked what those points were. The Earl of LIVERPOOL supported the Chancellor's proposition. The LORD CHANCELLOR then ordered ;Motors. Brougham and Denman to he called to the Bar, and, by com.bamd of the House, asked to what points the) to tended to speak ? Mr. BROUGIIASI ssiti—" In obedience to the coin mood of this House, we are to state on oliot points we iii .cud to address your Lordships. It is our tillaution to duel air Celittill Matt-I MI the part of the Queen, which we contiot hot Milk are calculated to ',roam e an impor tant ef f ect Imola the councils of this House. It is matter of detriment to her Majesty that your Lordships should have been advised to reject the ',ennuis of ) esteritas • ',resented before the Bill was read." Counsel then ii Wilke iv, and, after some discussion , wese railed egoist to speak mil) to the mode of proceeding on the Bill, and to time. Mt. 11110IGHAal then addressed the House. It had leached act tisosty's car, that she was to bc dealt with in all tests CIO a s II die was the lowest, iiistrad of the highest subject. God giant, said the Learned Counsel, also vs:s in tne situation of the lowest subject. If so, she violist not have to complain of delay. Had she Ineu the tovan• ~'