The National Register. — London, England, 1820-07-23 00:00:00

should forfeit the duty he owed to his illustrious client ? It had been asserted that motions of this kind were incite for the purpose of inflaming the passions of the people, and exciting prejudice and agitation not of doors; but, had lie been aware of any other mode in which the Queen could have obtained the use of the articles of plate she I required, lie should tint have hesitated in adopting it. I As far as his opinion went, he was far indeed from wish ing the Queen to court public favour but when a deep and ripe necessity compelled; but in the intercourse of her Majesty with Ministers she had not met with that liberal treatment to which as a sovereign she was entitled. He appealed to the justice of the House and of the COllll - if, when her Majesty had required a yacht to convey her to England, the answer of the Fit st Lord of the Ad miralty, that the King was out of town, and that no eider could therefore be made, was decorous or hi coming ? It was the duty of the Noble Lord to have waited upon her Majesty without delay, in order to take tier royal pleasure upon the point. Surely this was no great encouragement for the Queen to rely upon the liberality of Ministers as to her private comforts and conveniences. The Noble Lord had said that the motion was founded upon a gar bled statement of facts ; but he had not shown how they were garbled, and he (Dr. L.) had read the whole of the official document with which he had beets provided. He had, however, not been quite so negligent as the Noble Lord had supposed, fur lie had been told, on inquiry of those who made the plate, that it had been ordered by the Lord Chamberlain, bid that the taste and judgment of the pre sent Queen had been consulted. It had been truly remarked, that the conduct of the Qileen at all dines was evidence at least that she considered the plate her owo : she had not only packed it np, but she had sent for it while upon the Continent; and it was not too notch to say, that she advanced no claim which she did not thir.k founded in right and justice. It was obsers able that no , doubt had been raised regarding it until after the cala nuity which visited his late Majesty had rendered him incompetent to the duties of government; and he (Dr. L.) entertained no opinion mole consciencions than this— that, had it pleased Providence to have spared the facul ties of his Majesty, England would never have had to rue the inquiry now impeuding over it. (Cheers.) --1 t was not too much to suppose that the late King would have extended to the termination of his life that paternal pro tection which he had uniformly shown to her Majesty. The noble Lord had alluded to same conversation of the Earl of Aylesford ; but, in investigations of much less im portance, hearsay evidence was always looked upon as most unsatisfactory. As to this misconduct charged against her Majesty, he bed hoped that the Hon. Mem bers for Yorkshire and fur Cm k (Mr. S. Wortley and Mr. Hutchinson) would have had a little more consideration and feeling lot the situation and character for the 'IA. culties and embarrassments of the Queen, and would not have taken this opportunity of venting in loud and un called-for terms of their disapprobation. True it was her Majesty was not in want of immediate feuds, hut she had no conveniences for horses nor carriages to support her dignity as Queen Then as to her appearance in the public streets, every body knew that she was obliged to live in a house with the blinds of all the windows down, or be exposed to die gaze of all who chose to look in upon her. Was it meant that tinder these circumstances she should be an absolute prisoner, stint out even hum the light of day, for the sake of courting the fastidious opi nion of certain Hon. Mentbers?oo(Cheers.)—Such obser vations did no credit to the understanding or to the feelings of the Hon. Gents. who had made them, and who thus showed that they had no sympathy with misfortune. He would take leave to say, that, in her Majesty's pre. sent ct laoiitous situation, every act of consideration and accommodation would be regarded with approbation, sod the more so the more it seemed to emanate front the throne itself. He would not dwell longer on this subject; but he hoped he had succeeded in shoe ing, that, however mistaken or unadvised might have been the conduct of her counsel, her Majesty was in no respect implicated in their indignation or ignorance; and lie regretted that he had been at all called upon to step forward in the obscure of his learned colleagues, who would have done snore jus tice to the cause lie hail weakly espoused. After remarks from Lord A. Hamilton, Mr. Martin, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. S. Wortley, &c. die motion was nega tived, no division being called for. The Report of the New Post Office Committee having been presented by Sir W. Curtis, the House adjourned. TIMDAY, JULY 18. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER brought forward his motion respecting the Ductless uf Kent, se. man king that no provision had been made for her infant ; and be conchided wills moving an address tot issuing uf the 6,00J1. to the Duchess of Kent, that aould have been due to tlic Duke of Kent for the Apia Qll4lter.—Agreed to. Mr. CALCRAFT moved for Returns of Brokerage be tween the Broker and the Aeconut-General of the Court of Chancel y. Mr. COURTENAY had no objection to the motion, as far as it could be complied with. The returns w ere re quired for the lost ten years ; and he this dote doubted whether bitch accounts could be prelim ell, especially as the Molter was not a iereasit of die public. Lord CAsTLEREAGH moved, that the House at it, rising do :Weenie to Monday neat. Mi CALCRAFT asked what it was the intention to do then regarding further adjournment. Lord CASTLEREAGH replied, that it was proposed to name the same period of adjournment that might be , fixed by cite Lei its; and then to 11/111C some pe•tioil when it was likely to have the Bill before that House, and when it annul he desirable, by a call of the House, to secure the stillest aitendeuee pussilde.—Motion tweed to. New lianttacus.—'llie CHANCELLOR of the EX • CHEQUER moved the third 'ceding et* the Baruack Agreement Bill. Mi. LGCKHART disapproved of thu Bill, beeanse it was resortieg to the alititary for internal protection. The House divided on the motion. The ottothere were Ayes to—N ors Alajoi ity 35. The Bill aas then lead a this d thee and passed. Mr.,C. H. HUTCHINSON moved for a copy of the Report of the Excise Board in le eland, con14111:11g Cita observations regarding their proposed abet ations atiecting &e. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the previous gill sliull. FOREIG Titame.—Mr. WALLACE pteNettted a Re port dont the Committee on Foreigo '1 rode. They ad mitted the prom title that es try keit, oat au es il, THE NATIONAL lIEGISTItIt and was only to be justified by the peculiar circumstances of the case. The Con:matte came to Ihr coorlitAii,n, that all goods. the produce of other countries, might be im poi ted, provided they were imported in British vessels. 'they also required, that importations s4oulii he duty free —particularly excepting the linen trails. If the House retognizrd the principles of the iti poi!, he should deem it the first step towards amelioration of the system; and he hoped that other countries would follow o u r ex a mpl e . Report ordered to be printed, and the House adjourned to Monday, COMMON COUNCIL. PROCEEDINGS AGNIINST THE QUEEN. On Monday a Court of C um COUI)CII was held,in pursuance of a Requisition piesented to the Lord Nlayor, for the purpose of taking into consideration the expe diency of addressing his Majesty, or petitioning the two Houses of Parliament, on the subject of the pending proceedings against her Majesty. 'Cließequisition having been read— Mr. FAVELL rose to address the Court. lie com menced by adverting to the great and momentous con sepience of the topic to which he was about to call their attention. The privileges belonging to that Court en titled them, on the present occasion, to approach the Sovereign himself; hut be ►bought it more favourable to apply themselves to the two Houses of Parliament, and, if possible, through their means, to avert an evil which might be productive of consequences, the bare anticipa tion of which was calculated to excite well founded alarm. Those to whom he ILA the honour of addressing himself were all aware of the manner in which the ac cusatiora against her gracious Majesty had beer intro. timed into the two Houses of Parliament. NVitile io one House the green bag had been kept shut, in the other it had heels opened, and upon its secret contents, unsupported by open, fair testimony, a Bill of Pains and Penalties had been brought in against her Majtsty, upon proofs of which the world knew nothing, and of the credibility of which the Secret Committee, by which the Bill had been recommended, must have beets themselves totally ignorant. Hcr Majesty was broadly accused of an adulterous interceurse with a foreigner, and with an unremitting course of licentious conduct for a period of six years. No opportunity had been offered for examin ing the character and testimony of the witnesses by which imputations so proved had been supported; nor had her Majesty the advantage of knowing the places where, nor the precise time when, she was supposed thus to have sacrificed her own honour, and the dignity of the nation, with which she was closely connected.— He would ask any fair, candid, or honourable mind, whether such a proceeding was consistent with princi ples of justice in this country? Was it not a departure from the common and ordinary mode of administering the law of England. Such a course had never been resorted to since the days of that tyrant and butcher towards his wives, Henry the Eightli.—(Hear.)—The Hon. Gentleman concluded with moving a series of resolutions in unison with his speech. Mr. HURCOMUE seconded the resolutions. _ Mr. BROWN tru,ted lie should not be accused or in consistency it he opposed the Lsolotions, but he con tended that a Bill of Pains and Penalties was the only mode of proceeding that could meet the case.—lie concluded by moving the previous question. Mr. DixoN supported the motion of Mr. Brown. Mr. ilukcomue spoke at considerable length in fa vour of the original motion, and in reply to Mr. Brown. lie recapitulated the various Bills of Attainder mat kid been passed, and said they were only resorted to by bad men and at bad times. Mr. JAMES said, he could not by any means tinder stand how her Majesty or her friends could complain of the cootie of proceeeding in the House of Lords. Four teen years ago he admitted the Queen had been traduced, and had great reason to com Plain, but now her own wishes for a fair and open trial were agreed to, and jus tice would certainly be administered. Ile concluded with saying he should vote for the previous question. Alderman WAITHMAN strongly supported the reso ludons. The people should guard their own privileges, and he trn,ted (lie City of London would shew their spirit, in constitutionally asserting distir rights, which were, in the person of the Queen, about to be infringed. Her Majesty's case was one which called fur sympathy, hut the public were iii this case to look to themseives, as their liberties were deeply implicated in the cm isiderai ion of the question. 'fbere was, amongst the distressing dillicultses that presented theinselvs-s, that of his Ma jesty bring obliged to sit in judgment upon his own wile. Aldermaa NVaithinan concluded an animated speech, by ctflin Oil the Court to be unanimous oil tins subject. Mr. T. N. WILLIAMS said, the course adopted by Ministers was certainly the beia, and justice would un questionably be done by the Lords. 11cr Majesty could nut base refused the very noble oiler of Ministers. (A laugh, and continued ridicule.) Mr. BLADES contended that the Bill of Pains and Penalties was against all law. Mr. FAVELL briefly replied, and the previous question was negatived, alter which the Resolutions were agreed to without a division. Petitions were read and agreed to, and the Sheriffs directed to wait on a Lord in Parliament to request hint to present the Petition to the House of Lords, end to present the other Petition to the House of Commons in the usual manner. An article in the German papers dated Vienna, July 2, says—" Their Alajesties the Emperor and Empress, and the Archduchess of Parma, have been tint some days at Persenberg, on the left bank of the Danube. They arc expected to return to this city in a few days. The Archduchess Clementina, Prin cess of Salerno, arrived here on the 27th ult., having come from Lia 4 by water, ou the Danube." 245 HIGH TREASON. SPECIAL COMMISSION ODYER AND TERMINER. STIRLING, JULY 13. The Court at nine o'clock recommenced their Sit tings at Stirling. 'foe whole of the prisoners svizP(l at iliiiiiiymiiir (18 in number) were bron:zlit trout the Casklc, under au escort of the 13th Foat, and placed at tile bar. Mr. cy, as Counsel for the prisoners, addressed the Court, and !Laud d Obi:C.6oll to Mr. Sergeant liullock appearing on the part of the prosecution, as he was entitied to plead only in English Courts. The Lint President said, that by the Articles of Union the law was the saute in Scotland as hi England. There was no difference whatever, and if Mr. Jeffrey thought proper he could claim a ri4ht to plead for the traitors at the approaching Court of Oyer and Terminer, at York. The list of Jurymen, consisting of 153 names, was then called over. Hardie was then informed that he was to be put eta his trial. Sevtral of the Gentlemen called for this trial were challenged by the prisoner's Counsel. The Clerk of the Arraigns read the Indictment against Hardie, all the prisoners remaining at the bar. The Lord Advocate opened the case t,n the part of the Grown, and proceeded to call witnesses, who con firmed the statements already before the public. Mr. Jeffrey delivered a long speech for his client, but called no exculpatory proof. The Solicitor-General replied. and concluded by expressing his firm conviction that the Jury would find tile prisontr guilty. The Rigi r Hon. the Lord President charged the Jury in a very able manner, who afterwards, retiring for a few minutes, at a quarter east one o'clock in the morning of the 14th, returned a verdict of Guilty on the ed and 4th counts of the indictment. The counts and overt acts are the same in all the in. dictments brought before the Special Commission. STIRLING:, JULY 14. The Court met this forenoon, at ten o'clock and pro. ceeded to the trial of.rohn Baird, weaver in Condorrat, the leader at the battle of Bonnymuir. He is a stout smart-looking little man. The whole of the other prisoners with the exception of Hardie, who was tried and convicted yesterday, were at the bar. The Solicitor-General brought the ease against Baird before the Jury in a speech of considerable length. A number of witnesses were then called for the pur pose of proving the publication of the treasonable address; that a conspiracy was formed against the life of of his Majesty ; that the persons seized at the skirmi►h of Bonnymuir were levying war against the King; and that the prisoner was one of the number concerned in these treasonable proceedings. Mr. Jeffrey addressed the Jury for the prisoner in a very eloquent and iugenious speech. He did not deny that the evidence went the length of proving the prisoner to have been present at ihe affair of Bottnyntitir, but con. tended that there was nothing in that affair to constitute the crime oft treasonable levying of war. The Lord Justice Clerk charged the Jury •TIRLING, JULY 15. This morning, at two o'clock. the Jury returned into Cow t, with a verdict of—Guilty. It is thought probable that the sittings at Stirling may be shortened by some of the prisoners concerned in the affair at Bonnymuir throwing themselves on the mercy of their country. Li the Court of Justiciary atEdinburgh, on Friday last. John Sharp was convicted of firing a loaded pistol at the county patrol, in Main Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow, ott the igth January last, and sentenced to be executed at Glasgow on the 16th of August. Although the Court did not adjourn till three o'clock ibis morning, the Commissioners entered the Hall at ten. When the prisoners were placed at the bar, Junes Cleland, smith, of Glasgow was named for trial. Mr. Jeffrey stated, that seeing the i4tte of the trials of Baird and Hardy, notwithstanding the struggle of their Counsel, he thought it his duty to advise the pri soners, if they were conscious of their guilt, to with draw their plea of Not guilty, and to throw themselves on the mercy of their country. The Lord Advocate addre.ised the Court. lie wished it to be distinctly understood, that this line of conduct was adopted by the prisutiers without any bargain being made fur them. Ile had no doubt they might receive the mercy of the Crown; but he consid.red it his duty to intimate the possibility, nay, the probability, that the prisoners tot2ht, notwithstanding theit pleading Guilty, suffer capitally. Mr. Jeffrey acknowledged that there had been no compromise. prisoners then severally pleaded guilty. They were taken from the bar and scot back to the Castle. The Lord Advocate said, that there were different shades of guilt; and it would certainly give bins great personal pleasure to see the royal clemency extended. The Petit Jury were discharged for the time; but they, as well as the Gr,aid Jury, were directed to Amid on Monday, the 31st July, when the Court will resume its sittings. The Bel for establishing Express Posts at a double rate of postage, has nearly gone through all its stages. What will the pubic think if this ex periment degenerates into mere tax on correspon dence, by sending all letters, in this way, and increasing the rate of the present postage, the increased expences affording a pretext fur the advanee ? EDWARDS THE SPY !—This notorious character is revelling on the produce of his villanies at Carrick, and the citizens of Dublin anticipate a visit. from him.