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'fled bent laid to he astonishing 'that tisere should so, let me ask what would it have been had suet
not be some draft of it. But the very sup, osition a proceeding taken place with a man in a younger
was absurd oft the face of it, that because there period of lite, whose ambition WAS all alive, who
was no dreft, he and scone other person had wished met only to arrive at the highest offices otthe
been concerned. in foal trateeetihns, which they State, but to cortinue in the enjoyment of them?„lle
wished to conceal. Could not the parties, it cannot surely be denied that it would have been the
there had been any such, have easily med read- highest and most severe punishment that could well
ily destroyed the vouchers and other documents be conceived, to stigmatise him thus in his own per-
that roigiat lead to detection, without having any son, and with such opprobrious terms and marks of
stetual release, by which they put a deed into the disgrace as would not fail to convey the most melan-
handa of a variety of persona, who might after- choly and cruel effects to his unfortunate, though in-
worde discover what had been done. Besides, such noeent posterity ? I would further ask—is i,ttt.er::int-
a deed, to be effeattal, must be recorded in some of mishretent that the Attorney Gen. should be ordered to
:the Supreme Courts, and thus the deed itself would commence a prosecution against a man for the recta--
prove the strongest evidence against the parties.— very of a sum of money equal perhaps to the amount
There is, Sir, another supposition, that this took of hi; whole fortune, because it is alleged only to have
place immediately on the appointment of the • been unfairly attained ? Is it no punishment that in
Navel Commissioners, which is equally absurd ; for the close of life, that interesting period, in which
at the time that took place, I was at so great a repose, retirement, and tranquillity are mosu-peen•
distance, as I before mentioned, that I knew no- . liarly requisite far its sustenance and comfort, - he
thing of it; and if any such intentions had been should be harrassed by the institution of a process
in contemplation, or any apprehensions entertained which is to make him liable for what be has not re-
on account of any discoveries that might ensue, such I ceived, and which may, perhaps, eventually reduce
a deed as this would certainly have been resorted to him to absolute poverty ? If placing any person
Os some antecedent period, and not deferred so long: in such circumstances as these, be not severe pu-
Some persons have expiessed considerable surprise, I nishment, I know not what can deserve the
that such a clause should be contained in such a i name. Besides, Sir, if I am to be impeached, I
deed of release. as that for the destroying* of vouch- I should be glad to know by whom lemto be tried ?
ers or memoranda, hut, I believe, they are not The House will do well to consider that what ha:
I
uncommon as to loose papers, and there is nothing tilreoly passed in their proceedings has produced
in it that relatea to books of accounts. I have the effea of stimulating a great number of Peers to
dwelt longer on this point, Sir, than I otherwise stand forward is various parts of the country, and
should have done, on account of number of re- to promulgate opinions on the subject of his combed
ports and acrimonious observations which have gene in terms which shew forcibly and clearly they have
abroad c Accruing it. It is not, however, my in- already prejudged my cause, and cannot therefore
tendon to intrude on the time and patience of the think of sitting as my judges. These Noble Lords
house much further, as lam conscious I have no could certainly never have dream -d of the word
reason to be afraid that I shall not be able to con- Impeachment as applicable ro my cease, or they
vine the whole world of the reelitude of my con- would never have taken the parts that many of
duet and intentions. I certainly do not mean to them had • done. I beg leave to remind the
say that I have not experienced, or do not feel at I louse of the proceedings that took place some
present, the utmost anxiety on these various ac- few years ago at Maidstone. At that time a
counts, and at what has been for some time passing man of the name of Raikes, who was one of
in this House relative to myself. I should think, the jury, had uttered intemperate words against
and freely confess, that I must be possessed of ez- some or all of the parties to be trie I. On
traordintuy apathy indeed, could Ibe in,ensible to this being represented to the judge, he was not al.
proceedings so highly interesting on a ssOjeCt of lowed to act in the capacity of a juryman, but his
such magnitude and importance. I have felt, Sir, name was struck out of the pannel ; so careful and
most keenly the many severe comments and obser- jealous is the law of this country of suffering any
'rations which have been made on transaftions that man to sit in judgment on another whose cause he
have been said to attach to roe, but which I deny to has in his own mind slotermined before hand. The
be the fan. I have, Sir, however, felt them like a same disadvantage will attend me in the case of an
man ; and if there are persons who think thereoy to impeachment in reference to my accusers. A certain
breek down the spirit with which I ought to defend number would be appointed by this House to ma-
myself, they will find themselves mistaken. I own, nage the proceedings, and to conduet the trial with
Sir,that every mode has been resorted to.which could fairness and impartiality. Among these, in. all like-
have a tendency to that point, and I have been lace- lihood, will be found Gentlemen who have been Ite-
rated. not only in my own feelings, but from the re- tonguing the multitude, and inflaming their minds
Ration that, in the wounds I have received, the smart against me in Palace-yard and various other places in
was doubled on the recolleetion of some of the hands London, and through every p art of -the country, so
that were obliged to infla the probe. I am, Sir, that if those be not idle reports, there is no fair
notwithstanding, ready to meet the attack with that chance of my meeting an impartial Jury, before
Sortitude and patience which ever attend on a mind whatever tribunal I may be tried. I have ano-
conscious of thereaitude and purity of its anions they observation, Sir, which applies to what has
and inteodons. A Onto, however. may come, and been said, as to accounting under another charge.
I hope it is not now far distant, when those who The Attorney General has, I understand, been
now pursue my condua with such unexampled ri. ordered to institute a civil anion against me for
gour will perceive their error, and become conscious the money which it is alleged and supposed I bave
of the injustice that has beets done me, through obtained, from the public. Is it just that I.shall
misconception and misrepresentation. This is, have two different prosecutions against me at the
however, not the time to miter upon that same time, and that the Auorney General should
theme ; but I feel the consciousness of my own have it in his power to bring the evidence Adduced
innocence deeply implanted .in my own mind, in the civil aCtion before the Criminal Trihunal, or
and I swill descend to my grave, with the pleas- Vier verse? I Mink this a kind of procedure that it
ing and heartfelt sausfaaion, that' however the is impossible justice can allow; it is such a mix-
:shafts of severity and cruelty maybe levelled against tupe of one thing with another as no words can de-
me, at the present moment, the future impartial his- scribe. It will be such a proceeding as, if allowed,
torten will be able to hand down my name in the there can be no security for any person of rank who
list of those wise have attenuously, and I hope not aas in official situations; they will always be liable
ineffeetually, exerted, during a long life of public to this double mode of proceeding, and to he har-
service, their unremitted endeavours to promote reseed continually, whilst the lower orders will be
the welf.ue, and the dearest and most essential free from any such disadvantage. 'this is a rigorous
interests of their country. I am sorry, Sir, jealousy of the aristocracy, which IJo not think it
to detain the House so long, bat
eA .cannot leave deserves; but which, atter having troubled the
it without wresting to be heard- a few words House so long, I will not dwell upon any further."
on the subjea, at present immediately fixed to oc- Viecontet Mteret Lee then made the usual salutations
1 espy their attention and consideration. If Use to the House, and withdrew.
Motion intended to be brought forward this day, Mr. WHIT LIREA I) rose, and spoke to the fol-
or any like it should take place, I shall be placed lowing purport—" It must, Sir, be a great satisfac-
In such a situation as no subjet of this realm was tion to the House, and is most particularly so to
ever placed, before. It is very well known to the me, that the Noble Lord has at length had an op-
-House that the person who now addresses them has portunity of thus defending himself against the
been employed in high official situations, that he is charges which have, as he says, unjustly been brought
a person of high rank, and has been a Minister of against him; and it would stiil add to the setistac-
State, and, as such, I should suppose, he would be tion on my part, if the forms of the I louse would I
thought to deserve, at least, equal consideration allow the Noble Viscount to hear what I have to
with those who move in, the inferior orders; I say in answer to what has just fallen from him. I
should have thought he might have expo Red to have mast, however, confess, that I expected, after the
been treated with at least an equaldeet ee of candour strong terms its which he expressed his innocence as to
and lenity, and that some considerable degree of cri- these charges, to have heard him declare in terms
minality would have been aanally proved against equally forciale, that he would be glad to embrace
him, before this House, or any other tribunal, would , the earliest opportunity of vindicating himself by a •
have consented and decreed, that he should be alto- trial against those charges which he has in the most
ally punished in the severest manner. It may, per- unequivocal terms declared to be false, and against
hap s, be thought by some, and I have no doubt but assertions which he maintains are most glaringly cone
it is confilently asserted by many, that I have re- tradiaery. Instead of this, he tells you boldly, there
ceived no aetuel punishment; but 1 would ask is no tribunal before which he can fairly be ti ie.]. If
the House, and the world at large, is it no pu- you impeach him, the Peers, he says, have prejudg-
niehment to be stigmatised, as heing unworthy ed his case ; and if he is to be tried by a derv, there
the confidence of my Sovereign ? Is it no psi- is not one to be had which cm be deemed im-
nishmeut to be dismissed from a high official partial. He is not content with his challenge
situation, and to be branded with the odious charge to any particular array, but roundly arraigns
of being no longer fit to continue in His Majesty's the whole country, and charges them with hay-
Councils? If this be not punishment, and of the ing minds so influenced and prejudiced against
severest kind, I know net what the word implies. him, that he can have no justice under any form
—I will, Sir, put the caw, that an impeachment of proceeding. This, S;r, I firmly deny to be
had alually been voted, when this subject the case; hut that part of the Noble Lord's speech
was first brought before the house—l will even exactly remiods me of the question that was pat to
go further, and suppose, by way of argument, me the other night, when I gave notice of the mode
that the impeachment had succeeded, and that I meant to pursue, by a Right Hon. Gentleman op-
the charges alleged against me bad been fully pnsite (Mr. Canning), whether I spoke as the organ
proved. The punishment, I have a right to sup- of the Committee? That Right Hon. Gentleman
pose, might not have been more than what has al- must very well have known his question was alto-
ready been infliatsd, without my hiving had any gether unnecessary, and that I could not speak as
opportunity of being heard in my own defence, and the organ of the Commitee, because the Committee
upon evidence which, I have before said, and which had not given arty opinion whatever oa the subjea.
I now repeat, has been misennceiveJ and mistaken. I had a right, as a Member of this House, to give
I will not say. Sir, that your proceedings are de. notice of the Motion I meant now to bring forward,
serving t! e chore:ler of harshness and oppression; and I shell certainly aft upon that right. the Noble
but certainly the operation and effeets they have Lord, who has so boldly asserted his innocence, has
produced mess be allowed to ha tantamount as objected to being made liable to two prosecutions,
to myself. It is not perhaps ef equal importance one civil and the other criminal, at the ciele time.
in the eye and estirnetien of the st celd at large, I say, Sir, these two modes of proceeding may be
that such a punishment as this should have fairly carried on at the same time ; and in proof of
fallen to the lot of a nun at my time of life, it I will only refer to the history of the civil and cri-
who cannot be supposed, according to the corn- minal prosecutions of the country. In faa, if it
mon valise of things, to have held these honours were net so, the country would lie at the mercy of
many years longer e but, taper:song this to be the Crown; fur, in almost every instance, tLc L town,

by instituting a criminal pr,
time defeat an impeachment.
ask, are there never two I,'
on against the same r
know there are v.:ry r ;ten

the condat of the party
though an aaion has been'
in damages, an indilrn-t
prosecuted for the same offence,
different offences, the one l-

tion of duty in breaking s
eovery of the public money
But suppose this to be the ca,
lame offence, what would pre
eeeding? Why, Sir, to cut the knot we can't untie,
and order the Attorney General either to abandon
wholly the civil suit, or to suspend it. The Noble
Lord has Said, will you do by me as you have
never done by any other subjeCt ? No, Sir; by
this mode of procedure we should not. When Mr.
Hastings was inipk!ached, there was a suit against
Kitt in the Court of Chancery, Sand Lord Loug's. •
borough ordered it to be suspended till such time as
the impeachment was determined. I would du the .
same in the present case. With regard to the ap.
peal made by the Noble Viscount, in the latter
of his speech, so far as relates to his relatives; I,
Sir, feel for his relations an unfriguell sorrow ; Lut
I cannot suffer my feelings to interfere with me
duty. As to the defence of the Noble V iscnttnt,
falls so far short of my expectation, that I think it
rather furnishes flew topics in favour of the resole-
lions. The different degrees of punishment of
which he complained were not the ass of the Heusi,
as the Noble Viscount had asserted, but of the
Right Honourahle Gentleman who had struck
his name out of the al/Weir before the matter

was moved.. In consentienne , certainly, ahis know-
d.at if he did not do so, he would again be
left in a miliorit), as when the resolutions were car.
tied originally, which made the Noble Viscount re.
sign his station of First Lord of the Adaiiralty, of
his own accord. As to the impeachment, the

House cannot refuge it. So much has coma out be.

fate the &lea Committee, that is new,•that not-

withstanding we were retried froM investigating
that point, I cannot help thieking the Noble
Viscount was a participator; and what can the-
House do, in point of fairness, but vote an im-
peachment, M order to prove his innocence, which
cannot be done except by a trial ? The House must
see it, and I call on them to impeach him on chive
grounds—first. for hit connivance at adireet breach
of the km ; secondly, I charge him with participa-
tion; and thirdly, with defrauding the public in
getting a writ of Privy Seal to excuse him from
paying the balances due to them from the affair of
ellicoe.- It was proved by the evidence. contrary
to the statements and assertions of the Noble
Viscount, that Trotter hart unlimited authority
to draw on the. Bank, and had mon tlly drawn
a million in one day. A still strottgee accu-
sation against the Noble Viscount is, that he
had put a beyond his own cnntroul, for as soon as
it came into the hands of Mr Coons. it sees .in ot.
his power; And if Trotter bad run away with the
money, the Noble Lord must have made ii pod.
which if be could ant de, the public must have '
stood to the loss. Bets Sit, not only Viscount Mel-
ville authorised Trotter, Witt Trotter anthorieed
Wilson, and so there rkas no end to it. Indeed, I
am air ad this systemerf the deputy's deputy was tort
common in the puhhc offices ; as in the sue), of a
foreign c tuntry,she King, visiting some public oak es
about his Court, founds little, squalid, mean look-
ing figtee, in a plain common dregs, when he
es-
petted-to see a man dssed in gold or silver lace—
" Hey day who are y'on ?" said the King, " Please
your Majesty, answered the stranger, I am the
page's page's page's page." I will just say a word
here, Sir, as to %Viison, and I to blame the Right
Hon.i Gentleman for continuing him in his place-
With regard to Mr. Wilson himself, I have seen
him before the Seidl Committee, and,he conducted
himself in the most Is:l6*ft:tory mannei ; hot haring
acknowledged this. I think he should not have been
continued after a refasel to answer the Commis-
sioners of Naval Invirr, As to Trotter, whose led
is private agent, the Noble Viscount has, in one
part of his speech, given such an account of him, as to
shew he was not to be trusted; that he had deceived
him as to the interest of money at the banker's, and
yet in a few words after, gives him a very good du-
' reeler. Ile says Trotter nes not asked several quo-
tions, which it he had, he would have answered in his
Lordship's favour,yet n fully appears thaffrotter was
asked in a variety of ways whether Vise. Melville had
participated, and he undo' nily said he would not
answer the question. No man in his senses, Sir, can
credit the assertion, that Tro.ter's account was so
blended and mixed, there was n t telling how it stood.
I do not believe it, I have fully considered it, and
think the assertion fundamentally false, and at tit.
rea variance with every part of his character.
am ashamed, Sir, to trouble the House with so
much of this weak part of the Noble Viscount's de-
fence. If the money had lemt kept at the Bank as the
direets, it would, Have been so kept, at the re-
quest and risk of the p tblie, whose property it was ;
it drawn from thence, and paced at Mr. Coons 's.
it was at the risk nt V.sceunt Melville and Trotter.
whose property it was not. The Noble Lord's ac-
count of destroying the earehers, &c. does not mAke
the case strongt r than it was brfore, and oothieg but
a trial can conv'nee the public of his innocence, and
that it was not done for the purpose of concealing
fraud; the vouchers v e.e n t o tly: the property of
Viscount Melville and Trotter, hut of the public
also, and yet they were destroyed without consulting
the public. These circumstances are aggravated by
what came out beim e the Seidl Commit.... Sums
to a Urne amount have been advanced for which the
Noble Viscount uablushingly told you he r. eeee wonlci
ore. er will account. Sir. Trotter is asked by the Se-
lect Committee wheth. r there ere any hot Its of ac-
, ceunts or vouchers r He answers no—they were
hue. al and destroyed ; and, what is very extraordi-
nary, the Conamissioeets pi ecept was tsititti on the
17th of January, and the release signed the Seth.
Viscount Melville says he never was constiltcd.
Very liksly. Mr. Spottiswoode was agent for both,
and soon after this sympathetic conflagration took
place. The Noble Viscount tells you he receive)
the release at his son's house, without know-
ing whether it came from a ULM of
business
or for whom; but he does not say he did not read
it, and that the vouchers were not burned in con-
' sequence.. Mr. Sputtiswoode, jun. and hi, pAr.ner

I----"I
prosecution, • ',,ht at at;
rnSir
ent. P ,es, will
kind* .. prosecasi fp,/
. ,
~.y at the same to
n ; and that i*cases wails
y has been very atroabotiii.
I brought for a compen.atiOW
•nt has been allowbd to he ;
TE
Iffenee. Malt are I.r
to being for abt h derelie-
the law, the;to4B4.A6t,
)(ley illegally
he case, and it watllstthi
mid be the mode of pro-