The Sun. — London, England, 1801-04-18 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF PEERS, FICTDAY, APRIL 17. THE Lords assembled this, morning at . half past eleven o'clock.—After reading several Bills on the Table, a Message was received from the Commons, brought up by Mr. BRAGG! and a number of Mem. .hers, stating that the Commons had sent papers for their Lordships' consideration, relative to the de signs,of the Seditious and disaffeded, and request ing that the Commons might have any of the said - papers returned to them from time to time, as might be wanted. A Message was afterwards moved by Lord Ho. BART' to 136 returned to the Commons, agreeable to the Message received, which was ordered accord.. ingly. The Papers were ordered to be referred to the consideration of the Sele& Committee. Their Lordships then adjourned till four o'clock P. M.- ' At four o'clock theit Lordships assembled again, and soon after a considerable number of Private Bills were brought up from, the Commons, and se verally read a first time. The Order of the Day was then read, for hearing Counsel, Ses:. with resped to Mrs, Addison's Di vorce Bill. Mi. ADAM, as Counsel for the Bill, accord ingly appeared at the Bar, when a few words were exchanged between the LORD CHANCELLOR and the Learned Counsel, with respect to the immediate line of proceeding, whether to argue the legal question popounded •by their Lord ships on a former day, in regard to. this par. titular case, or to go - into further evidence, for the purpose of substantiating the important fad of the Adultery of Mr. Addison., The Learned Counsel choosing the latter line of proceeding, three Witnesses were brought forward, two of whom attended Mr. Addison and Mrs. Campbell, the sister of his wife, in their tour in Scotland in 79+ ; and a third, who had also attended them on the same occasion, and was besides a resident for some time at the house of Mr. Addison near Black heath. Such circumstances transpired from the tes timony of these Witnesses, with rcsped to the abovementioned point, that • The Earl of CLARE was induced to observe, that if they were proceeding with the evidence on that head, in consequence of what had fallen from him on a former day, they need not trouble them selves farther, as he was then of opinion that part of the case was clearly established in point of fact. A Gentleman was then brought forward, with a ;view of shewing the state of Mrs. Addison's feel ings when she learned the criminality of her hu3- hand, which she had first hesitated to believe, as d `2rning him incapable of such depravity ; that when she was convinced of it, her resentment and aver sion from him were so great, that she quitted his house, and ever since lived in a state of separation from him. She at present resides with her father, Sir James Campbell, at Inverneith, in Argyleshire. A short explanatory conversation then took place between the Loy n CHANCELLOR and the Learned Counsel on some legal points connected with the case, and which are to be matter of future argument and deliberation ; their Lordships having deferred the further consideration of the case till Tuesday next. The Order of the Day being, then read for cer_ tain proceedings :relative to .a Question of Privi. leie, Lord AUCKLAND moved the Order for the exclusion of Strangers, in _consequence of which we are precluded from stating the particulars of what ...passed. . However, we understand that the ostensible Printer, &c. as well as the acting Publisher of the Evening Paper called the Albion, were brought up and called to the Bar, on a charge of an important breach of the Privileges of the House ; their con.; du6l on which occasion formed the subjea of their Lordship's'. 'deliberations until 'a quarter past eight cielock, when the doors were again thrown open for the admission of Strangers. After Strangers were re-admitted. . the Order of . the Day was read for the second reading of the' Habeas Corpus Suspension Bill. . Lora MOIRA rose, 'not he said, to g i ve hi s d e _ tided oppositio n t o t hi s Bill in its present stage, but to-'state some objeflions which appeared to him • deserving of their Lordships' consideration. He was very ready to admit that there might exist cases in which it would be right, and indeed neces sary, to suspend the Habeas Corpus, and he did nor Mean to contend that it might not be . necessary to suspend that MI at the, Intent moment ; hut he should contend that there had not been sufficient evidence laid before their Lordships, to justify them in taking 8o strong a measure as that which was maw proposed. It had always bten usual in cases sinittar to the present, to have - 4 Message from the Throne delivered by a Minister, who, with his Col leagues, were :mswerablefor the advice which they gave His MAJESTY; but in the present instance there was nobody responsible. A Committee had cer titinly been appointed, but there was no such respon sibility attached to thcm as there was to Ministers. He was far from wishing to throw any imputation upon the Noble Lords composing that Committee, because nobody could plao 4 greater reliance upon their honour than he did ; but still they were not placed in 'that situation of responsibility that Mi nisters were, and if it should turn out that the it ! tt. z 4,lat which they had formed was erroneous, what remedy could the i-fouse l)aVe It appeared to him , that i 5 such a Fase ;s the present, the tonunittte ousht not tp have confined it se lf to * giving a mere opinion ; they ought ,to have st ate d the ground s upon which it was formed. It might perhaps be improper to state the sources from which they hall derived their inibrrnat:on ; but he did nclt think thew could be any impropriety in stating that the circumstances generally were upon which their opinion was founded. UPon these grounds, tbough he should not oppose the Pill in the pres en t stage, he thought it r i g h t to say, that he should 4414 sonic further information upon 07 gliZlCtt pf.ftor 44Ye his assent to the pill? Lord BORINGDON contended that the .Noble Loids had no, reason to complain-of want of info:. =inn, because though the Report Of the Commit. tee did not state every particular part 'of the infor mation they, had obtained, yet, in his opinion, they had stated sufficient to justify the House in passing this Bill ; they had - stated that there were persons in this Country acliug upon the principles of the Irish Diredory. This faa alone appeared to him to justify the measure they were about to take, and which he considered as a measure of prottetion and lenity, as well as one of precaution. Lord _HOBART rose merely to say a few words, in consequence of wl at. had fallen from the Noble Lord who spoke first. It was true, that no dired communication had been made from His MAJESTY to that House; but it was very well known that a Message had been delivered to the other House of Parliament by one of His Majesty's Confidential Servants, and therefore the Noble Lord was not correct, in stating that there 'was no responsibility on the part of Administration. His Lordship said, that the Committee which had been appointed by their Lordships had examined the subjea referred to them, and had unanimously concurred in opinion, that such a measure as that now proposed was abso. lutely necessary for the safety of the Country. He was so decidedly of that opinion, that he shoeld undoubtedly submit to their Lordships the pro priety of passing this BAt through all its stages this night. Ile ti.ou B ht it right to state thus much, in order that 'the Noble Lords might know upon what grounds they were to discuss the mea sure. Lord HOLL AND, in a Speech of: considerable length, opposed the Bill ; he despaired of being able to make their Lordships concur in opinion with him upon this subjea, but he _felt it his duty to say, that in his opinion sufficient evidence had not been laid before the House to justify them in pass. ing a Bill of so important a nature as the present. Allowing every degree of confidence in the discreet use which Ministers would make of such additional power, he would say, that the trust was too great to be committed to them; but, in fad; the experi ment had been made, and he would insist upon it that this power had been abued by His Majesty's Ministers. Persons had been confined for above two years, wi t h Out Ministers having been able to substantiate any proof against them. He begged the House to consider. what, hardships these persons had endured, their solitary , con fi nement, and depri vations, whil st His Majdty ; '' Ministers having never thought fit to bring them to trial, it was fair to presume they might, after all; be innocent.-- '1 here was once a time when Noble Lords would have examined, and re-examined, before they adopted t a measure Of this nature, and not have rest. ed contented with taking the assertions of any set of men. His Lordslrip then adverted.-to the treat. ment of the Prisoners- in the Cold Bath Fields Fri. son, the condua of the Governor, six. and ex pressed. his surprize at these circumstances being passed over in silence. A Noble Lord ha.: told the House of the wretched situation to which Ireland had been brought. But he wish_ ed to know whether this was owing to- the want of the Suspension .of the Habeas Corpus Act,— or to me a s ur es o f r i gonr bei ng neglected ?'The sysiem of coercion had prt.duccd no good efreti; a system of conciliation would, in his opi,,io n , have been better. It was his firm conviction that this Country was fist approaching to a dreadful situa. tion, and that the measures taken would not be found sufficient to prevent the evils dreaded. The Earl of WESTMO RL AND said, there cbuld be no question as to the importance of the Habeas Corpus Al to the Liberties of the Subject; but what alone called for their Lordships' consideration was, ivhether the proposed Suspension of it was called for in the present critical situation of affairs ? His Lordship then proceeded to vindicate the con. dud of .the Committee ,which had been appointed, and the nature of the'Report which they had made. With regard to the use which His Majesty's Mi nisters . had made of the former Suspension of this AEI, he Would challenge the Noble Lord to prove that any good and loyal subjea had been molested or put into prison in consequence of such Suspension. The power with . which Ministers were entrusted, had in no case been abused, but had been exercised with a scrupulous regard to the pub lic safety. The Noble Lord had declared his want ofeonfidence in the new Administration ; but, in his opinion, it was - a good recommendation of the new Government, that they steered by the counsels of those who, amidst an unusual variety of public dangers and difficulties, had guided the Bark of the State safely through so many dangers and storms. The Noble Lord (flo LLANO had adverted to the distresses of the Poor ; but he was proud to say,. that there never was ;t period when more regard had been paid to the distresses of the Poor. The Bill now under consideration was one of proteaion to the loyal, and a Bill of prevention and of for bearance towards the wicked and evil-minded. Earl -MOIR A in reply, said he was not satis. fled with the vague assertions contnined in the Report of the Committee, however much he respeaed the Noble Lords composing that Com mittee, individually considered ; but they svere persons who had mostly been in His Majesty's Ad ministration, and composed of such who it would be expeaed, would necessarily frame a Report to vin dicate the system which they had adopted. The consequence of the measures which had been adopted by the Noble Earl (WEststottLaxo) when Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, silt:wed the inefficacy of that system of measures which had been pursued there, His Lordship condemned the method which Ministers had adopted on the present occasion ; they had merely laid Papers on the Table, without bring ing. any dire& communication from the Throne, thus avoiding all responsibility with regard to the measure brought forward, .and , shifting it from themselves to the. Committee,,Aitir, %%lien a mea sure which was an evident infraftion of the Consti tution, was brought before Parliament, the Mini. stet who did so, ought to make himself personsliy responSible, which in this instance, and by the steps taken, he had evaded. He could not coine!i e s a s 4 His Majesty's Ministers, so far as to take theii louse Statenients, instead of' Evidence, as a sufficient ground for suspending the Habeas Corpus MI. On a matter of such importance to the 10erry of the Stthjcft, he. requited not assertion merely, but po . si tive proof. -If unlawful Oaths had.been administer ed in any instances, 2s Iteted in the Report) why not convia the persons chargeable with such proceedings ? As the Law stood, he believed the sen tence for such conduct was Transportation ; and even if any individuals could be so conviaed, he should still doubt whether that would form sufficient ground to pass a Law which went to_ disfranchise so many of his fellow-subjeils. The Earl of WESTMORLAND, in explanation, denied that Ministers, by adopting the mode of lay ing the Papers on the Table, instead of coming down with 'a'diiitt communication from His MA. J E sry, did so with any desire of avoiding responsi. bility. _ - Lard C4E.LYPIL,LE thought, that enough had been stated on the Report of the Committee, to sa tisfy their Lordships and the Public, of the expe diency of adoptini , the measure now under conside ration. It had been stated, that a Conspiracy of the same nature still existed, which ILO in . vegved Ireland in such calamities, and which, had it not been for the vigilance of Ministers and Parliament, would have involved this Country in similar dis tresses. Their Lordships' Committee had further stated, that the Report of the Committee of the House of Commons had been filly proved ; and they stated this fa& as-the result of their own Inquiries on the subject. lie denied, that this Report was to be classed as mere declamation. - But a degree of proof had been required by Noble Lords, which was incompatible with the very objea of appointing a Committee of Secrecy, which was instituted for the very purpose of guarding against giving public in. formation of the sources from whence the evidence and intelligence were derived, and which publicity would go direCily to counteract the end for which such Committee was appointed : And he would ask, whether it would be more conducive to the public safety and welfare, for those , who were entrusted with the Executive Government of the Country to be able to trace the nature and progress of this Conspiracy, and how best to counter it, than by disclosing any particular evidence, even although sufficient for the conviction of any indi vidual offender ? His Lordship observed, that the Committee had stated in their Report that the same Conspiracy existed, and was still pursued in this Country, as had plunged Ireland in Rebellion, and the nature.-or-which had been amply detailed in the reports,llre-ady before their Lordships.— The continuance of this Conspiracy ,constituted a good reason for the continuance of the present measure. This Conspiracy was stated to be pursued by the same means as had rendered that which subsisted in Ireland, so peculiarly dangerous; by the formation of Secret Committees, and the ad:, ministering of Secret Oaths. The Committee of their Lordships farther informed them, that these profligate men, looked at the distresses of the Poor with no other view than as an engine to work upon their passions, and to excite them to Insurrections and Rebellion. A Noble Lord had demanded, if a of this natUre would provide reliefagainst Scar. city ? Undoubtedly it would not, but it would serve to prevent the machinations of those who would take a handle from those distresses, to work upon their passions. These Conspirators had ac knowledged; that the Bills now proposed to be re. newed, were the greatest obstacles to the exe_ cution of their designs. He would ask then, was not this very acknowledgment a strong recommendation to the continuance of these mea sures ? The Committee had likewise stated, that the design of those Conspirators was to cause a sudden explosion, which was intended to take place in the interval between the expiration of the former bills and the renewal of those now before the House. This of itself afforded a reason, not merely for passing the till now proposed, but for deing so with as little delay as possible. Upon the whole, his Lordship said, he had never given his vote in favour of, a measure more cordially than he should do on the present occasion. The question was then put for the second reading of the iiili, which wits carried without a division. Their Lordships then negatived the CommHaien of :he Bill. On the que2ition fathe third reading of the Bill, Lard HOLLAND rose and moved, that the Stand. ing Orders of tht Uousc, Numbers 24., 26, and 10+, be read, which was done accordingly ; these in substance, generally ordained the non-passing of Bills through different Stage s -on the same day -7- and that these Orders should not be dispensed with, unless a day's previous notice of an intention to move for such a proceeding he preViously given. Lord HOLLAND observed, he did not rise to move to have those orders enforced, but wished to call to their . Lordships' recolledion that such Orders were in existence, and to refer particularly to the Order last read, which exaEtcd a day's previous notice before the efFe6l of such Order could be re- gular!y dispensed with, with a view to slew what little resped certain Noble Peers sheaved to these orders, and those, perhaps, who would he the first to take advantage of any breach of them in other Noble Lords. • Lard 110 R ART begged to appeal to the recol ledion, as well as the candour of the House, if, in what he had said yesterday, he did not give, as far as the ease possibly admitted, notice of the proceed ings which were urged this evening. Though he did not exaaly know the contents of all the Papers which were laid before the Committee; yet from his official intercourse, he had a previous knowledge of the contents of many of them ; that to a certain degree warranted him in his observations upon the point yesterday ; but as to the degree of expedition in framing a Report which had been used, he could not spe4 with equal certainty. Neither did he know he should have been appointed one of the Committee. Lord HOLLAND spoke shortly in explanation, after which the , 1014a4 , 1-ead a third time and passed. The Order Of - die Day for the third reading of the Irish Master of the Rolls' Bill was then moved, in consequence of which the Bill was forthwith read a third time, without any objeCtion being offered to the measure. The Bill was then passed, and a message was ordered to U sent to the Commons, acquainting them that their Lordships had agreed to the said Bill without any Amendment, The Route adjourned at eleven o'clock,' till ta i morrow, when a Commission takes place fot da Glaring the Royal Assent to certain Bills., HOUSE OF COMMONS, FRIDAY, APRIL 17. The House met this morning pursuant to the NO tice given yesterday, at e leV en o ' c l oc k . The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEVE; sated, that His MA J ESTY had been waited up with the Address of that House, praying that fit MAJESTY would permit the Papers presented to th House on the Ist and ad of April, to be laid befot the House of Peers ; to which Fits MAIRSTY ha been pleased to reply, that he would give 'diredilon accordingly. The CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER: thee stated, that His MAJESTY had been waited upoi with the Address of that House, praying that b would give diretlions for Monuments to be erieet for Captains MossE and Riou, who fell gloriousF in the Attion of the ad of April. To which' Hu MA J ESTY had been pleased to reply, that he woulC give direetions accordingly. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER tber moved, " That a Message should be sent to the Lords, to acquaint their Lordships that the Com. mons would send to their Lordships the Papers laid before the House on the Ist and zd of April, de. siring that such Papers might from time to time be returned, as might be necessary for the tonvenienca Of the House."—Ordered. bz_ The House then adjournedadjourned till bttlf put te e o'clock, • The House met again at half.past three o'clock. Mr. JEF F P A YS brought up a Bill for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor of the city of Coventry, which was read a first. time, and ordered., to be read a second time on the Ist of May. Mr. WILBERFORCE rose to give notice, that 00; Monday next,- when the Report of the Corn Coqui, mittee was to be taken into consideration, be shOkig bring forward a Proposition relative to that meittire. The House resolVed itself into.a .Committavai the Bill for the more effeaualiy pretr_entinitbe For. gery of Bank. Notes, &c. The LORD ADVOCATE 'Said, the Bili , iit present worde -4 , would affect} some of thiCgimtry - Banks of Scotland, particularly that of Aberdeen, respeffing the- manner in which th e i r formed, with a spiral line, &c. and tin - ihisied9tui s t he wished some alteration in the Bill. e The ATTORNEY GENERAL thought theobw jeaion of too trifling a nature to stand in the way . of a measure of such importance to the interests of the Bank of England ; and that the expenOe to the single Country Bank of Aberdeen, with . respell tb, the alteption which this Bill would occasion in the • form of their Paper, would not at most exceed sol. He, however, felt no objelion to postpone the measure, so as to give time for an understanding on the subjeft between the Bank of England and the persons concerned for any of the Foreign Banks, who apprehended their interests might be affetiall by this measure. The Chairman was accotngly iiireacd to rep port progress, and ask leave to sit again, and it was agreed that on Tuesday next the House shin* again resolve itself into a Committce on the UM Bill. Mr. BitAGGE reported, that in pursuateeef the directions of the House, he with other Members 4aa, been to the House of Lords, and delivered cettaits Papers to their Lordships. A Message was received from the Lords, stating► that their Lordships had referred the Report of the Secret Committee of the Commons, .together` with the several Papers coMmunicated to that Hoos4 to a'Committee of Secrecy appointed by their LortL ships, and that being at all times desirous to main 4 tain a good communication between the two Houses, they would return such Papers as the Common. might be desirous of, from time to time, - - BRA . GGE moved, ‘ 1 That it be an instralion to the Committee of Secrecy, that they have powek to communicate, from time to time, with the Cott., mime of Secrecy appointed by the , Lords;"..... Agreed to. . he House then went into Committee to con. sider of exempting Curates, unacr certain ci r . ettmstances, from the Payment of the Dury UIor: _ tiorses. • Mr. M. A. TAYL?It moved a Resolution, tha t Curates, o ff ic i at i ng as suc h; A n d': who should not be, assessed .to the-Duty upon Income s should be ex... empted from the Payment of the • Hone ' Duty ; which being agreed to, and.the ,House resumed, the Resolution was reported, and ordered to be re. ceived on Monday next. Mr. Coital- . proposed, that on Mo nday next the House should go into a Committee, when he should Move, that the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland be au. thorited to prohibit the Exportation of Corn and Potatoes, and to permit the Importation of Corn a.od. Fish into Ireland ; 'and, in the mean time, hit moved, - that there be laid before the House sundry Papers, relative to the Proclamations issued by.•the Lord Lieutenant of ft ehind on the subjea, which were ordered to be laid before the - House. • The Report of the. Committee on the Seditious Meeting Bill was brooght up. The continuance of the Bill was axed to six weeks after the commencement of the next Session of Parliament. The Bill was. ordered to be read a third time on Mondaynext.. The Irish Permanent Service Bill was committed, and, with Amendnients, reported to the HoUse. The Irish Tea Duty Bill was committed , . and, the House being resumed, the Report Was.brought up and ordered to be received o 0 Mon6y next; The Rice Importation Irish. Bill, was . read a first time, and after a few words - between Messrs. CUR. Wart and CORRY, 45 to the exteui of the Provision-, of the Bill, it was ordered to be read a second time on Monday next. Mr. BRAGGY brought up the Report of the Lottery and Custom Duty Bills, which:were order. ed to be read a third time on Monday next. The Barley Malt Bill was committed, and the Report ordered to be received on Monday. Mr. N. 1 1 ANSITT ART moved, that a Committee be appointed to propose an Estimate of Cloathing of the for the the Pay and year z So