The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1806-04-30 00:00:00

1 Ulr OF P.II2LI.4AIVir. TRIAL OF VISCOrNT MELVILLE. The House of Lords having made an order on Monday night, as stated in our Report of their pro. ceedings,?rohibiting any publication whatever of the trial of Viscount Meier ci.E, during the continuance of the same ; and desiring that notices of sui.h order be posted n p on the doors of that House, and on the doors of Westminster Hall ; we are unable to gra tify the Public by a complete report of the case, so far as it was gone into yesterday. The Charges against I his Leedghip having been long since published, and became the s-bjvifl of universal discussion, we did not apprehend that this prohibition would have taken place, and had made arrangements for de og the trial front day to day, until its final con citnjon. All we can now do is, to collea the pro cdiiss during the continuance of the business, —id he prepared to give our Report, as soon as we do so with propriety, consistent with the order cd tire f louse of Lords. We hope, however, it will not be any violation of the order, to inform our Readers of the forms observed upon the trial ; of • the company who attended it, and the bustle which it produced out of doors, while we carefully abstain from touching upon a particle of the merits, or any circumstance that could exciie a pi ejlidice co the one side or the other. At day-light yester day morning, the Horse and Foot Guards, to the amount of about three hundred, marched to Westminster, and shortly after were distributed in the ditTretet avenues leading to the Hall. and. the Houses of Lords and Commons. . Parties of the Horse patroled down Whitehall. as far as Charing-Cross, and obliged the great number of carriages pressing from all quarters, upon that point, to form in regular line. Many attempts were at first made by skilful coachmen, to break from the advancing line, and get into that set apart for the returning carriages ; but they seldom pro ceeded many yards, before they were overtaken, and seat to the rear of the rank front which they had broken. This punishment produced the de sired effcEi ; and, during the remainder of the morn ing, all was regularity and order. The whole west end of the town had been in motion from seven o'clock. Soon after eight o'clock, the car riages began to arrive at Westminster-hall, and before nine, they presented a complete string from Charing cross to Westminster Abbey. At ten, Mr. Warr attract and several other Managers, arrived in full dress. About a quarter past ten, His Royal High ness the Prince of WAL Es followed ; he was dressed in uniform, and robed. In ab-Att ten minutes after, His Roy al Highness the Duke of Sussex drove up in la!s ris-a-virs. Their Royal Highnesses the Drakes of CIL Allt/7CE, KENT, and CAMBRIDGE, followed, all dressed in uniform, and in their robes. The carriages of the Row. FArri.e, and those belonging to His M AJEsTV'S House hold, did not keep the line, but drove quickly to the door of the House of Lords, escorted by a party of the Horse Guards, who cleared the way. So much time was occupied in setting down the company at the several doors, Lord H isvrxr.saurt end many others of the Nobility, impatient of delay, left their carriages in the middle of the street, and although it rained smartly, walked bareheaded a distance of more than two hundred yards to the doer. About a quarter past eleven o'clock all the company had arrived, and scarcely a carriage was to be seen about the place. The hour at which they were ordered to return was, generally, five o'clock. The number of the populace had not been considerable at any part of the morning. At ten o'clock, the &MARES of the House of C. nations came to the House, and in a short time af:er wards took the Chair. He then dispatched the r Serjeant at Arms to clear the passages, and about half past ten proceeded to the Bar of the House, when the Members being c.dled over according to their co- nt:es, followed him in procession to \Vest. minster-Hall. The Members mustered to the amount of about 900. Some of them were in half dress, and others in boots, as they usually appear in the House of Commons. The Managers were in full dress, with bags and swords, and went into the Hall first, headed by Mr. Wm t site AD ;-Jthey took their . seats in the box prepared for the Managers. At half past ten, the Commons entered the Hall. About eleven o'clock, the Lords moved from their own Chamber of Parliament, the Clerks of Parlia ment first, the Masters of Chancery following them, next the Scrjeants, then the Judges; after them a Herald, end then the eldest sons of Peers, and Peers minor ; then after the Ushers, the Barons, two and two, B shops, N'ircounts, Earls, Marquisses, and Dukes. After they had ttken their seats, the Serjeant at Arms made Proclamation. commanding silence, in ti.e usual form, and an awtul pause ensued. At twenty-five minutes past eleven s , be Loan st s !sc. t.toa entered, preceded by a Herald. bear i a ClOllll upon a cushion. and Garter King at Arm;. tEs Lordship took his seat on the Wool sack ; then the Prince of Watts, Duke of Yo Doke of Cf. A ILENCL, Duke of Cu Ns seta amp, and Duke of CLOUCESTLE, entered, and took their seats by the side of the Logo Crta fa taut. In passing to the seats allotted to them, they took off their hats, and bowed to the SPEAKER of the House of Cam , mons, and the Throne. The Hall was now occupied in the following manner : In the centre was placed the Throne, covered with crimson velvet, and bearing the Royal Arms, with the letters G. R. Behind the Throne, upon the right, was the Queetes box. Next to it, on the left, the Ki NO'S ; and next to it, the Prince of W Les's. The Kiwo's box was empty ; the QUEEN'S and Prince of %V AL E S'S were full of females the first rank and fa,hion, splendidly dressed. The space upon the left of the Throne, and in the same line of it, WAS occupied by four Mace- Bearers, and two Heralds, in their proper rettume, in front, and the sons of Peers standing behind them. The space on the right of the Throne, and on the same line with it, corresponding with the former, was occupied by (mar Macts-Bearers, and the Loan HIG it ST ew•so's Gentlemen, all of them standing. Upon the floor, and before the Throne, was placed the Woolsack; on which the LORD Cnats eut.t.ort seated himself with H:s Royal Highness tho Prince of WALES. and the Archbishop of CA sr- TEROUR V. on his r ght and lett. In float of the Woolsack, was the Table, covered with party-co. looted cloth, and hearing the LORD CH ANCEL',O Mace, Poise, the Seal., and .Journals of the House; the Clerks of the House of Lords, and the CH AN• CIA coil's Mace aad Purse-Bearer sitting around it. And between this table and the Woolsack, at the sides, upon two benches, parallel to each other, were seated the Judges (not Peers), the Six Clerks, and King ' s Serjeants, in their respetive proper robes. The Setjeants were, Messrs. COCKLL, SH yen ERD. LENS, and MARSHALL. On each side of the woolsack and table, and ex tending to the extremities of both, were two rows of benches, parallel to each ether. Those upon the right of the I hrone were occupied by the Ecclesias tical Peers, seated according to precedence, in their robes. The Bishop of OSSORT, the junior Spiritual Peer, at the extremity from the throne. 'Chose on the left were occupied by Their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of YORE, CL•RZNCE, KENT, CAMBRIDGE, CUM BBRI, AND, and Sussex, the Senior Peers, and Great Officers of State. Their Royal Highnesses did not, however, occupy these seats during the whole day. The Duke. of Yottet and Ca as Rat nut sat for some time apoo the woolsack, and the Duke of St.ssex sat for a short time among the Spiritual Peers. Roy:d Highness the Duk.• f Gr.oucestEs took his station at the table, upon the right of the Loan CH ANC LI. Loot, and stood alnl Ist the whole time Mr. Wi n ettea• s speaking. Next upon the floor were eight tows of benches, parallel to the table, and extending entirely across the Court, in front of the Throne. These were occu pied by the House of Lords, seated according to their rank and 'precedence, beginning with the Dulcet, and ending with the Barons, the former upon the front seats. Behind the Batons, upon the right,was the box for die Managers appointed by the Commons to conduct the prosecution, consisting of Mr. War ramo, Mr. Fox, Viscount Howice, Lord H row ity PIET f, Mr. SHERIDAN. L'Md Tula e LE, Lord A. HA'aILTON, Mr. GI Lis, Mr. MORE ts, and the Asroast? and SOLICITOR-GENII A LAIC. MT. WHITBIE•D took his plat . in the front, to the left, and close on his right hand were the two short-hand writers, Messrs. Gott:- trey, Senior and Junior, in full dress. On Mr. WHITBREAD'S left, sat Mr. Fox, next to him, Lord IltWlty NETT, and next to him, Mr. SNER:DAN, and Mr. Gir.ts.—Mr. Fox being indisposed, wore a grey cloak over his full dress. A corresponding box upon the opposite, or left. hand side, was appropriated to the Counsel and friends of Viscount Mat.vit.r.a. His son, the Hon. \VILLIAII DUNDAS, in the angle of the lsox to the right, and his Counsel, Mr. Piouta and Mr.Ao st, sat in the middle of it. Behind it stood his Lord ship's agents, Messrs. SHAW and Ls BLAac, and several of his friends. The frosts of these two last-mentioned boxes form ed a right line, and constituted the bar of the 'muse. Lord Viscount Mitt.vexcz sat alone within the bar, and close behind the Barons bench. He came in at the same time with the other Lords, having en tered at the opposite end, at the great door from Pa- Lice l aid. His seat was on the left, immediately is front of his Ctunsel—His Lordship was dri•ssed in .1 full suit of black, with a black silk gown and a lull buckled wig, powdered. Boxes and galleries were ereSed all round for the accommodation of the House of Commons, the Foreign Ambassadots, Peeresses, dm On the right of the Throne, sett to the Queen ' s ' - box, was a box for the Foreign Ambassadors. It was filled with the Rossi AK, SWELISH, DA Ntssi, and.Poa - Tvnuese A M BASSA DORS. All the rest of. that side of the Hall, and half ~t the end of it over the Ma nagers' httx, consisted of o::e gallery, with several rows of benches covered with green cloth, for the accomodation of the I lnuse c f Commons, Mclu.ling a box far the SPEAK kH, a: a sl,ort distar.,:e om the box of the Foreign Ambassadors. Oppssite to the Ambassadors' box, and on tre lett of the Tlllolle, was the Loot! CH ANC EL LOH'S box, which was filled by some of his Lordship's family and friends ; consisting of two General Officers, and se veral Ladies. The remaining part of that side. ar.d also the half of the end of the I lali, corresponding with that occupied by the Commons, was a gallery divided rat° boxes for Peeresses and their daughters; and behind them were benches for the accommo dation of strangers with Peers' and Lotto CHAIR- S SRC A 's tickets. 't h ere was also a tecend gallery at each end of the Hall, of consideial9le extent, for the accommodation of strangers. At the sirs also, on a line with the windows, were two se cond galleries, extending the whole length of die Hall, with three rows of seats, tor the Board of Works, and the V ice-Cua m BERL A I rr. The whole Court was covered with crimson cloth, except the part occupied by the Commons, which was coveted with green, as above stated. _ _ The Peeresses' Boxes were filled with the fol lowing Nobility:— Dochessn—.Cordon, No•thumberl:ind, Rueand, Montroini, St. Albin's, &llon, Beaufort, Leinster, Manchester, Chan dus, sad Srinserset. Marchion►see—Hertford, Headiort, Aber;ern, Salisbury, Kali, Stafford, Winebe , Ser, Buckitisham, Wellesley, and llownshire. Countesses--Ca. divan, Charlement, Sefton, Camden, Clare, itirrymore, Essex, Limerick, Darnley, Uxbritlfs, Harrit.gton, Spencer, Temple, Derby, Harcourt, Buckinghamshire, Chat ham, Albemarle, Nl.,rion, A dooroesh, Dartmouth, Waldo,- ~,,, Ilclarester, Macclesslrl, Kenmare, Pembroke, aid Euston. Viseaantesses--Canlersiagh, Hinehinbrooke, Middleton, Crernonie, Sudley, end Dungannon. Ladies—Le Depericer, Ports..mby, liarrowby, Ellenborough, Grenville, Perth, nacre, Heatheme, Fitz,erald, D. liam.l - Osborne, Taylor, Geed, Holland, Hawke‘bury, Stanlay, 'Windham, Coke, Field, Frankland, Martin, Walla..e, Dash good, Grantham, Pete, Calthorpe, Huutiogkeld, and Manners. The Lofto CIIANCELLOR, as soon as he had taken his ..it, Grdrred the Serjeant at Mace to proclaim silence, which was done accordingly. The Serjzant at Klee then i made Proclama- tion " Oyez, Oyes, Oyez !—Whereas, charges of " high crimes And misdemeanours hare been exhi bited by the I lonottrAble the House of Commons, " in the name cf themselves, and of all th? Com " niOns of Oreas Britain, against Halsor Lorii Via- "count Ititt.viti.s, all persons concerned are to " take notice, that he now stands upon his trial, ar.d •6 they may come forth, in order to make good the " snid charges." The LORD CHANCELLOR then addressed Lord Mxxvixt.e in a short speech, to which Lad Mia.- vixte replied. He stood and bewed. o,:e of the Masters of Chancery thea read the Articles of Im peachment in a clear and distina manner, and afterwards the several answers put in by Lord Mexvi t.t. which occupied nearly an hour. The LORD CHANCELLOR then stated, that this was the time for the Commons of Great Britain and Ire land, by their Managers, to substantiate their charges again.t HaNey Lord Viscount Mtavfxr. e. Mr. %V nisaasan then rose, about a quarter past twelve o'clock, and stated the case, in a most elo quent and impressive speech. It occupied three kours and a half. His exertions were so great. he could at times be heard distindtly on the cutside cf the Court ; and, towards the close of hii sta:ement, he appeared much exhausted. —He refreshed himself in the course of his speech with two glasses of water and a glass of wine. Viscount Muvrt.t.e sat in a reclining attitude during the whole of Mr. WHITBREAD'S speech. which he listened to with marked attention. His countenance was firm and composed, and his eye constantly fixed upon Mr. WHITBREAD. Mr. WHITBREAD stated all the charges; and as soon as he hat concluded, the Loso Cintin ccxxon left the Table where he had sat co vered, from the commencement of the pro ceedinl;, and resumed his Hat upon the %Voolsack. The Court then adjourned until tea o'clock this day. and the Houses of Lords and Commcns re tired in tie same order. and with the same _ceremonies which they had observed cn enter ing it. The Barons first. then the Viscounts, Earls, Marquisses, Dukes. then the Chancel lor, preceded by his mace and purse bear bearers ; then the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Royal Dukes, as before, and last, His Royal High necs the Prince of Wa us. The gracefulness of the PRivices salute to theThronc, as he passed, and the dignity of bit deportment, excited universal ad- mitat;on. Viscount :eLvtcLe retired after the Lords, through the same door at which he had entered. The Com Mons. with the SPSAR ea at their head, fAlowed the Lords, and after them t: le M tnagers. The Peeresses, with their daughters, retired two and two, trough the House of Lords, from which they entered their carriages. The carriages begun ' to art ve between txo and three o'clock, a id at the latter how, they formed a complete string, as in the morning. reachi,:g from the Haymarket to • Ntiestmitwer Hall- At Ci:aring-suss, the accu mulation of carriages, waggons. anJ other vehi cles was so great; as to completely choke up t: pla,e, and to prevent all paisAge for a considerable 'time. Mary Elegant equipag:s were much Jai:meted. It VAS near seven o'Llock Lefore the last of them Zrovc off from the Hall. Many Ladies, rather than submit to the delay, Walked horse lions Palace,. Yard. No chairs nor hat kney coaches could be procured. The populace • mustered ten timer sum:ger than in the nwri,ing ; but the constables and guards succeeded in preserving the unie order and regularity. A temporary confeaiorer's shop was 'rated within the Hall, at the foot of the stairs . leading to the Court of Exchequer. which afforded a seasonable supply to those whosisd not come pro vided for so long a sitting. Westminster. Hall never before pre •ued so grand, beautiful, and piauresque a display.— Almost every woman of rank and faihion in town was present, and from the cli,position of the light, and the formation of the place, their charms shone 1 to great advantage. nrither the Opera House, nor any other rtOlic speflacle in town, is so favourable for the display of female beauty. The presence of such a splendid group* of ek gantes, afforded us an opportunity of observing •• what was most generally worn, and most fashionable for half-dress : the ladies wore turbans with veils, or veils with flowers or tiaras in front ; and lace cans ornamented with flowers, coloured ale caps, with lace and tracers of the same colour, ned those composed en;i:ely of a fi• ha, had a vcry aim- ple and elegant appearance ; white satin tippets edged round with swansdown, and twilled silk scarves, trimmed with plush, with bronze and gold tassels at the corners ; the spencer Espeznale, in white avid co lours; pelisses, mantle', &c. White dresses were universal, scarcely aar coloured were visible; the ridicule seemed more indispeitsibie than ever, as it was converted into an armoire, a3d appealed to con tain Sandwiches, Scc. as well as the little at ceteres for which it was invented. Sir S.l'aUet. R 01411.1.1( will th;: day rooted t') call witnesses in support of the charges. IC; woos as the evidence on the part of tie prosecutio. is closed, the Counsel for Viscount MaLvi4.l.a will enter upon his defence, and Mr. Wit t:rtsitwoimsiii . he inthled to reply. It is thought iliac thelrasii. goys nal not be able to lay the whole of the evi sitto,:e before the Court in less than five days. • Mrs. JORDAN plArld Rosalind, with Al her . Fascinating sweetness, List night, and was never re ceived with more enthusiastic applau.e. The Countess of GOSi oa CO will give a grand root on the 8111 tat May, at her house, Upper Harley strest. ibe White Plume, last night. went off with great geht• The enchanting music was rapturously applauded. Mrs. Picot, had a grand rout, on Monday even irg, at II( r house, its Wimpole-street, which was most numerously attended. Goodwood 'Rare begin this day, at which great sport. ar.d/ very eleg,nt assemblage of company are expeited. . . Mrs. Bentrox will give a grand rout, on the Bth of May, at her house. Audley-square. Mrs. PARIS will _give a grand rout , OR the Bth of 4 May, at her house, Portland place. Mrs. RA NI xeasLev had a grand rn.:sic party cn Monday evening, at her house is Pail-Mall. 'I he islisses CLSWALL rill have a grand rout, fix the sth of May, at th.ir h use, Davi, s-s reet, Berk- t ley-tqaare. - The Dowager Lady RIGGiMILLIIII, will give a . grand rout ou the sth of May, at her house. s Bloomsbury-square. Mrs. MOST MOVE will have a sale& party on the 9th of May. at her house in Portman-square. Mrs. G. Knox will have a music panty on the • 12th of May, at her house, Albemarle-street. The last arrivals at the Royal York Hotel, Clif ton, were— cape. and Ws. OT.rien, Mr. and Mrs gown, Mr. amid Mrs. Sanaa, Mr. and ]ilia. Ju.d...e, M- and Mrs Osborne. Mr. mad Mn. Kingstun, Mr. and Miss tlarrtion, Mr. Calvert, . Mr. Tavlo., Mr. lion', ar.d Mr Ho' worthy. L. Bucate, Esq. left town, yesterday, for Roe gate, near Petersfield. Hants. The Earl of Uxuatoca arrived in town, yester day, from 'Windsor. Mrs. Straw will have a selett party on the 7th of May, at her house. Portman-square. Mrs. B. CJOKE will have a grad card party on the tith of May, at her house, t.dward.street, Port- . man-square. The Duchess of GORDON dined last Saturday with the Dowager Countess of Proctruors•usatillt, at her house in Grosvenor-place. Mr. 1314,415 T Ea, that excellent and favourite per former.had in overflowing Beneft on M rutty nigh t. at Drury-Lase I heatre. I its pertoraiame in toe Imre Piece or i t,e Invisible Gal, convulsed the house: with laughter. Mrs. Josuais was intersumg and 1 lively in the past of Pewit," is the Comedy of Tim Gaiii•iters.