The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-05-07 00:00:00

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against convilted guilt; if, en the s
Ist of tstny. -when the Shrift of Les
an Address ; supposing His:Majesty bk
thrlv
which had not been done, I mesa
Viscount Melvin from the list of Pr
the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite,
leagues, have advised His Majesty to AlNAira ~,
swer to one part of the Address, but apt% ask,
poet of it, viz. h that care shouldle tilteeagar,
alibeuesewaisntatitheen pwiltbhlicresepeitepentdoittutsmis
levet" w,hiciathiteanooritishe
culprit ; no other reason can be given yrili- justice
had not been done. but beams& Ministers protea
the guilty. I trust, then, Sii, that the House of
Commons will consider it right to address His Ma.
jestsYs and that, before the Right Honourable Gen-
tlemarr opposite shall have made any communica-
tion, which might interpose between the justice of
the House, and the duty they must perform. This
is what is confidently required from, the public, re.
spa; ing the Conduit of their Legislators. The
Right Tlontouvable Gentleman must allow tpt pa,
polar opinion to go along with the House in the
,present instance. "these can, indeed, be no doubt,
'when the person accuses' confesses himself guilty.
If the tide of popular opinion be turned against
Viscount Melville, there can be no wonder, whet
the sentiments of the people are not in distinion
with justice. It is, therefore, but strihh jostle)! th,:t
I call udon the I louse to execute, and I can see no
reason, why the proceedings of the House should
be arrested, whatever steps the Right lion. Gentle-
man.and bis colleagues ;relay he induced to take ; of
whatever renunciations Viscount Melville may now
make. The diSereat measures that might be adopt.
ed on the present occasion are impeachment, a cri.
urinal prosecution, 'or removal from (Ace, and His
Majesty's Councils, in virtue of an Address of the
House. 'lli' lan (which was what he meant to
propose) -was by far :the lightest punishment. I
move, q.the first instance, 44 that His hlajesty's an-
swer to the Address, containing the Resolutions of
this Hoak, be now taken into consideration ;" and
shall afterwards move, h that an humble address
be presented to His Majesty, praying that His Ma-
jesty will be pleased to remove Viscount Melville
from all offices held under the Crown, during plea-
sure, and from His Majesty's Councils and presence
for ever."
Mr. PITT-44 The Order of the Day is, that
this House will p-occed to consider His Majesty's
Answer to their Address. I expeaed, therefore,
that the Hon. Gentleman would merely have first
moved the Message to be taken into consideration.
I trust that if he had allowed me the opportunity, I
should have had it in my power to satisfy him and
the House, that any farther discussion on this sub.
jet! had been rendered unnecessary. His Majesty
Illes been advised to direft the name of Lord Viscount
Melville to he struck out of the List of Privy CCMI•
senors, and I am farther authorhed to inform the
House, that His Majesty has given direCtions ac-
cordingly, and that it will take place on the first
day when the Privy Council meets. I now state
the reasons why I' did not feel it my duty to
give this advice sooner. I put it to the recolluc-.
Bon of the House, whether the circumstaacee
were not these---A -motion having been formerly
Made to take this very step..l mean to address His
M. jetty to this effect I then did-net ewer halide
discussion, but simply stated, that Viscount Ash
vine had resigned his office of First Lord of the
Admiralty, and that all prospeft of his returning
to any place of power or consequence was at as
end, unless the House varied its opinion. Many
gentlemen, at the same time, expressed, that they
were unwilling the House should proceed to a dirrct
a idress to His Msjeste of the nature now proi.osed,
not As ishing um ecess illy to wound the feelings
of an individual. I understood also. ths , tut
the other side of the House, it was not consi-
dered necessary that this proceeding should take
place, and that it was even de.ired such a mo-
tion should not be made; and that it would be
withdrawn accordingly ; and that a motion would
be made for laying Hi, Majesty's answer bethre thr
House, without any further comment. I did nut
thin conceive it to be the sentiment of 'the House to
propose the measure's being carried up to this pre-
cise objedt. I did not so understand it ; and, there-
fore, I did not a.t so far as to advise His Majesty
to the step which his. since been taken. Valious
allusions, indeed, have occurred in the course of
former debates, to farther proceedings in this mat.
ter, and suggestions as to what course of proceed-
ings would be best. I am convinced that the
sentiments of many most respeflable persons, and
particularly amongst those who were unfavourable
to Viscount Melville, were against taking any far-
ther steps ; but, after all that has passed. I am now
convinced of the rropriety of taking such a the.uure
as that now proposed, as I AM certainly satished that
if it were pressed, it would be the prevailing sense
of the House that it should be adopted. I have ant
wished to give the HOUW occa ion for unnecFssary
discussion, and, therefore, I have thought is my
duty to offer my advice to lis Majesty, who, .11
consequence of that swie/ice, li. & .ordered the name
of Viscount Melville to Ise e..:sesi from the list of
Privy Counsellors. 1 chtainly feel the bitter pang
in inflistliog the punishmert on the Noble person
who has unfortnnately fallen under the displeasure
of the House. [Alp. Pot,apresod himsrY :rah grra
Jerk ag, and Sterna as ici apied.] But it is a feeling
for which 1 am not ashamed, but am supported by
the consciousness of having afied up to publieiltoys
I whilst I am desirous of avoiding farther public dis-
cussion; sod which, I hope, will now be con adered
unnecessary. On this Jake I have given, I am
authorised to state, Hi. Majesty has resolved r'
sfl, and I leave it, therefore, to the cons &ration
of the I louse whether any further Jitctusion be nua
• necessary."
Mr. FOX —" I consider, Sir, that upon this oc-
casion the House has obtained a complete tiiumpr.
When I consider who these hlinissters are who hare
advised Lldis Majesty to dismiss Viscount Mehri!le ;
who have espressedf by their votes, a sense of his
h tying mistaken t is interval's of Parliament ; I
thi ark a complete triumpli has beets obtained: when
the justiceor the House makesthese men the instils-
means of doing justice, and fulfilling its pleasure.
But I wish also that the sense of the Hausa bail
been collefted from the public resolution of the
House. For why should) his Majesty have had the
formal notification of the NCI of Viscouid Mk
vine's malversation, toilou with the expetlahn•
on the part art the House that this ex,,cnll"