The National Register. — London, England, 1820-07-24 00:00:00

should forfeit the duty he owed to his illostrions client? It bad been asserted that motions of this kind were made for the purpose of inflaming the passions of the people, end exciting prejudice and agitation out of doors; had lie been aware of any older mode in which the Queen could have obtained the use of the articles of plate she required, he should not have hesitated in adopting it. As far as his opinion went, lie was far indeed from wish ing the Queen to court public favour but when a deep oud 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 (louse and of the coun try, if, when her Majesty had required a yacht to convey her to England, the answei of the First Lord of the Ad miralty, that the King was out of town, and that no order could therefoi ebe made, was decorous or becoming? It was the duty of the Noble Lord to have waited upon her Majesty without delay, in order to take her 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 lie had not shown how they were garbled, and he (r. L.) had read the whole of the official document with which he hail been provided. He liad„lio w e ver, not been quite so negligent as the Noble Lord had supposed, for he had been told, on inquiry of those who made the plate, that it had been ordered by the Lord Chandiei lain, but that the taste and judgment of the pre sent Queen had been consulted. It had been truly remarked, that the conduct of the Queen at all times was evidence at least that she considered the plate her own : she had not only packed it nu, but she had sent for it while upon the Continent; and it was nut too much to say, that she advanced no claim which she did not thick founded in right and justice. It was observable that no doubt had been raised regarding it until after the cala mity which visited his late Majesty had rendered him incompetent to the duties of government; and he (Dr. L.) entertained no opinion mote 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 impending over it. (Cheers.)—lt 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 some conversation of the Earl of Aylesford ; but, In investigations of much less ins portance, hearsay evidence was always looked upon as most unsatisfactory. As to this misconduct charged against her Majesty, he had hoped that the Hon. Mein. ben for Yorkshire and for Cork (Mr. S. Wortley and Mr. Hutchinson) would have bad a little more consideration and feeling for the situatiou and character for the diffi- Collies 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 funds, but 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 the gaze of all who chose to look in upon her. Was it meant that under these circumstances she should be an absolute prisoner, shut out even frotn the light of day, for the sake of courting the fastidious opi nion of certain Hon. Members?—{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 calamitous situation, every act of consideration a nd accommodation would be regarded with approbation, and the more so the more it seemed to emanate from the throne itself. He would not dwell longer on this subject ; but lie hoped he had succeeded in showing. 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 he regretted that he had been at all called upon to step forward in the absence of his learned colleagues, who would have done more jus tice to the cause he had weakly espoused. After remarks from Lord A. Hamilton, Mr. Martin, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. S. Wortley, &c. the motion was nega tived, no division being called for. The Report of the New Post Office Committee haring been presented by Sir W. Curtis, the House adjourned. TOESDAY, JLLY la. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER brought torwaid his motion respecting the Duchess of Kent, re- 'narking that no provision had been made for her infant ; and he concluded with moving an address for issuing of the 4,00 A. to the Duchess of Kent, that wciild have been due to the Duke of Kent fur the April Quarter.—Agreed to. Mr. CALCRAFT moved for Returns of Brokerage be tween the Broker and the Account-General of the Court of Chancery. Mr. COUR'FENAY had no objection to the motion, as tar as it could be complied with. The returns were re quired fur the last ten years ; and he therefore doubted whether such accounts could lie prepared, especially as the broker was not a servant of the public. Emil CASTLEREAGH moved, that the House at its rising do adjourn to Monday next. Mr CALCRAET asked what it was the intention to do then regal ding further adjournment. Lord CASTLEREAGH replied, that it was proposed to Ilonie the same period of adjournment that might be fixed by the Lords; and then to name some pet iud when it was likely to have the Bill before that House, and when it would be desirable, by a call of the House, to secure the fullest attendance possible.—Motion al4 reed to. New BARHACKS.—The CHANCELLOR of the EX CHEQUER unused the third reading of the Barrack Agreement Bill. Mr. LOCKHART disapproved of the Bill. breanse it was resorting to the Military for internal protect' . The notate divided on the motion. The numbers were --Ayes &t—Noes 43. Majority 35. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. Mr. C. H. HU'ECHINSON moved for a copy of the Report of the Excise Board tot Ireland. containing their observations regarding their proposed alterations *Reding destines les, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the previous question. FOREIGN Tn•D6.—M►. WALLACE pressured a Re port from the Committee on I'm *moo Trade. '1 hey ad mitted the priomple that e'er) toAtkin:a was au of L. THE NATIONAL TIEGISTrit and was only to be justified by the peculiar circumstances of the case. The Cotuntitte came tr. the conclusion, that all goods. the produce of other countries, might be itn ported, provided they were imported in British vessels. They ale required, that importations should be duty flee —particularly excepting the linen iradt. If the House recognized the principles of the Repo. t, li e sh ou ld d eem it the fist step towards amelioration of the system; and he honed that other countries would lullow our example. Report ordered to be printed, and the llonse adjourned to Monday. COMM ON CO UNCIL. PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE QUEEN. On Monday a Court of COIIIIIIOII Council was pursuance of a Requisition presented to the Lord Mayor, for the purpose of takitrt into consideration the expe diency of addressing hi, Majesty, or petitioning the two Houses of Parliament, on the subject of the pending proceedings against her Majesty. The Requisition having been read— Mr. FAVELL rose to address the Court. Ile coin menced by adverting to the great and momentous con sequence 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; but he thought it more favourable to apply themselves to the two Houses of Parliament, and, if possible, through their means, to avert an esti which might be products of consequences, the baai aotico - of which was calculated to excite well founded alarm. Those to whom lie had the honour of addressing himself were all aware of the manlier in MOM , the ac cusatiobs against her gracious Majesty had been intro duced into the two nooses of Parliament. While in one House the green bag had been kept shut, to the other it had been opened, and upon its secret cmitents, unsupported by open, fair testimony, a Bill of Pains and Penalties had been brought in against her Majesty, 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 been themselves totally ignorant. Her Majesty was broadly accused of an adulterous intercourse 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 t Was it not a departure from the common and ordinary mode of administeriog 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 Eighth.—(llear.)—The Hon. Gentleman concluded with moving a series of resolutions in unison with his speech. Mr. II oacotatig seconded the resolutions. Mr. BROWN tru,ted he should not be accused of in consistency if he oppoied the lt.'solutions, but he con tended that a Bill of Pains and Penalties was the only mode of proceeding that could meet the case.—He concluded by moving the previous question. Mr. Dtstobr supported the motion of Mr. Brown. Mr. Hu RcomaE spoke at considerable length in fa vour of the original motion, and in reply to sl r. Brown. he recapitulated the various Bills of Attainder that had 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 under stand how her Majesty or her friends could complain of the course of proceeeding in the House of Lords. Four teen years ago he admitted the Queen had been traduced, and had great reason to complain, 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 vole for the previous question. Alderman VS AITHMAN strongly supported the reso lutions. 'lite people should guard their own privileges, and he trit3ted the City of London would shew their spirit, itt constitutionally asserting their rights, which were, in the person of the Queen, about to be infringed. Her Nlajesty's case was one which called fur sympathy, but the public were in this case to look to themselves, as their liberties were deeply implicated in the consideration of the question. There was, amongst the distressing difficulties that presented themselves, that of his Ma jesty being obliged to sit in judgment upon his own wile. Aldermen NVaithmen concluded en animated speech, by calling on the Court to be unanimous on this subject. Mr. T. N. NVILLIAMS said, the course adopted by Ministers was certainly the best, and justice would un questionably be dune by the Lords. Iler Majesty could nut have refused the very noble offer of Ministers. (A laugh, and continued ridicule.) Mr. BLADES contended that the Bill of Pains and Penalties was against all law. Mr. FAVEI.L briefly replied, and the previous question was negatived, after which the Resolutions were agreed to without a dip Petitions were read and agreed to, and the Sheriffs directed to wa il on a Lord in Parliament to request him to present the Petition to the House of Lords, and to pres.nt the other Petition to the House of COIIIIIIOII3 in the usual manner. An article in the German papers dated Vienna, July 2, says—" Their Alajestics the Emperor and Empress, and the Archduchess of Parma, have been for some days at Perscnberg, on the left bank of the Danube. They are expected to return to this city in a few days. The Archduchess Clementine, Prin• cexs of Salerno, arrived here on the ?th ult., having come 'Ewes Le z, ..15 , water, an the Dinube." HIGH TREASON. SPECIAL COMNIISSION OF OYER AND TERMINER. SIIIILING, .It7LY 13. 'l' ire Court at smie o'clock recommenced their Sit tings at Siirling. Tire whole of the prisoners seized at 130nnymnir (18 in noinh:r) ‘vcre brought train the Castle, under an escort of the 13th Foot, and placed at the bar. Mr. Jeffrey, as Counsel for the prisoners, addressed the Court, and stated an objection to Mr. Sergeant IluNoek appearing oil the part of the prosecution, as he was et itled to ple.id only English Courts. Tile Lail President said, that by the Articles of Union the law %yds the saute ill Scotland as in England. There was no rii&rence whatever, and if Mr. Jeffrey thought proper he could claim :1 right to plead for the traitors at the approaching Court of Oyer and Terminer, at York. Tire bit of Jurymen, coils:stir% of 153 names, was the called over. Hardie was tliett informed that he was to be put ott his trial. Several of the Gentlemen called for this trial were challenaed by the prisoner's Counsel. The Clerk of the Arraigns read the Indictment against all the prisoners remaining at the bar. Tile Lord Advocate opened the case on the part of the Crown, and proceeded to call witnesses, who con. firmed the su.temetits 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 expressints his firm conviction that the Jury would find the prisoner amity. The Rigi e Hon. the Lord President clvirged the Jury in a very able Wanner, who afterwards, retiring for :t few minutes, at a yaarter past one o'clock in the morning of the 14th, returned a verdict of Guilty on the 2d and 4th counts of the indictment. The counts and overt acts are the same in all the in. dictrututs brought before the Special Commission. STIRLING, JULY 14. The Court met this forenoon, at ten o'clock and pro ceeded to the trial of John Baird, weaver in Condorrat. the leader at the battle of Bonnyntuir. 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 case 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 Nlajesty ; that the persons seized at the skirmish 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 ingenious speech. He did not deny that the evidence went the length of proving the prisoner to have been present at the a ff a ir of Bottnyn"r, but cot'. tended that there was nothing in that affair to constitute the crime of a treasonable levying of war. The Lord Justice Clerk charged the Jury STIRLING, JULY 15. This morning, at two o'clock, the Jury returned into Court, with a verdict of—Guilty. It is thought probable that the sittings at Stirling may be shortened uy some of the prisoners concerned in the a frair at Bonny mum throning themselves on the mercy of their country. In the Court of Justiciary aiEdinburgh,on Friday last, John Sharp was convicted of firing a loaded pistol :it the county patrol, in Main Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow, on the 19th January last, and sentenced to be executed at Glasgow on the 16111 of August. Although the Court did wit adjourn till three o'clock this morning, the Commissioners entered the Hall at ten. When the prisoners were placed at the Isar, James Cleland, smith, of Glasgow was named for trial. NI r. Jeffrey staked, that seeing the issue 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 addressed the Court. Ile wished it to be distinctly understood, that this line of conduct was adopted by the prisoners without any bargain being made for them. Ile had no doubt they might receise the mercy of the Crown; but he consid. red it his duty to intimate the possibility , nay, the probability, that the urisoners iniabt, notwithstanding then pleading Guilty. suffer capitally. ?Ir. Jalrey acknowledged that there had been no compromise. The prisoners then severally pleaded guilty. They were taben from the bar and sent back to the Castle. The Lord Advocate said, that there were diiierent shades of guilt; and it would certainly give him great personal pleasure to see the royal clemency ex:ended. The Petit Jury were discharged for the lime ; but they, as well as the Grand Jury, were directed !narend Oil Monday, the 3lst July, when the Court svili its sittings. The Bill for establishing Express Pests at a double rate of postage, has nearly gone through all its stages. What will the think if this perimeto degenerates into mere tax on correspon dence, by sending all letters, in this way, and increasing the rate of the present pustoge, the increased expellees affording a pretext for the advance ? A. Protestant Cer,;yrnazi, at ticuie, has written to bis friends cn the banks of the Rhine, that the I'ope has r,ermiitod the public csereil.e he Reformed is an ova. templs, in 1... e Roman Capital.