The National Register.
London, England, 1811-01-13 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

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brooches to supply the deficiency, and if.any part of the power
belonging to such third branch were abridged, the equilibrium
of the three branches would be deranged. There was the excel-
lency of our Constitution ; it was that which preserved those
libertiot so eulogised by sutroundi. g nations—by a wondering
world ! Immediately that the incapacity of his Majesty was
ascertained, the Prince of Wales ought to have been addressed,
and requested to take upon himself the exercise of the Royal
Functions. He censured the words of the Amendment, " to
secure the Crown on the head of its rightful possessor," and
that the King might. reasseme the Royal Authority without
embarrassment to himself or to his people." They were highly
improeer, and would seem as if those who contended that the
Prince ought to have unlimited authority es Regent, would
assist to tear the Crown from the King's brow. It had been
said that two Houses were alinost daily giving the fullest con-
sideration to the present state of the nation, and therefore there
was no• necessity to petition them. Ave, so they were daily
debating, and they were also daily undoing what they did the
day before, and that being the fact, it was highly necessary that
the Corporation should express their opinion upon the subject.
The influence of the army and navy was great, and it had been
contended that places and eensions, together with that influence,
did not give to the crown too much influence. Now, however,
the contrare was contended, part of thst influence was intended
to be taken from the Prince. Some of the Prerogatives might
be suspended, but the real erdeavours of those wha would
restrict and limit the Prince, w• is to divide the influence of the
Crown. There was the evil. Such was the real motive of
those men who had usurped the Throne for the last two months.
It could not be endured that they should kn sixteen Peers in
the House of Lords at their nod ; for it would enable them to
entrench themselves behind the Throne, and thus to impede and
e nharrass the Executive. Mr. W. then alluded to Mr. Can-
ning's endeavour " to raise a laugh" at the expense of the Cor-
poration, after having eaten. turtle with contractors and jobbers
in the City. The " Walehereuite" Minister, too, had eutreged
public feeling so much as to pretend to taik of " public feeling,"
and the outrage that would be offered to it by listening to the
voice of the Corpotation e f London on this question. The
Resolutions had his most hearty concurrence.
Mr. JACKS wished the worthy Alderman to withdraw his
amendment, and to allow the previous question to be put.—
He certainly entertained considerable doubt whether the re-
strictions were adviseable and right, or otherwise. If he was
driven to the alternative of voting one way or the other, he telt
he should be obliged to vole for the amendment.
Mr. Alderman WOOD replied.
Mr. S. Dixoei shot tly explained.
Mr. nevi-veto: considered the prerogative of the Crown
granted to the Sovereign for the benefit of the natiolt at large.
lf, therefore, it was a prerogative for the use and benefit of the
people, in his opinion it ought not to be taken away or diminish-
ed, unless from ahsolute necessity. We never had to contend
with such an enemy at any former period, and for this reason
alone there never wes a time at which the Executive Power of
the Crown should be so Stroh;;. Consistently with the oath he
had tuken to support the illustrious House of Hanover, consist-
ent with the principles of the Constitution, he could not act
otherwise than he did on the preheat qccasion—by supporting
the original motion.
Mr. Alderman Breen shortly explained-ssand
The Itecoe DER put the quest ion upon the Amendment, which
was, upon a shew of hands, negatived without a division.
Mr. S. DIxoN then proposed the previous question tiron the
original Resolutions.
The question was then put, and upon a shew of hands, was
negatived.
The original Resolutions were then read by the Recorder,
and agreed to, ani a Committee appointed to prepare petitions
a id addresses to both 1 louses of Parliament, conformable tilt re-
to, who immediately retired for that purpose.
After about an hour's absence the Committee returned, and
Alderman Com et: presented a petition which had been agreed
to by the Committee for the concurrence of the Court, which
was then read end .tgreed to.
Upon the motion et Mr We tenet N, the Sheriffs were or-
dered to present the same to both Houses of Parliament, in-the
usual form, and after some further routine business, at bill
past six o'clock in the evening the Court adjourned.

Sir W. CURTIS, Sir J. SIIAw, and Sir C. PRICE. Mr. Alder,
man COMB e spoke in favour of them.
The Sheriffs were appointed to present Petitions containing
the substance of those Resolutions to the two Houses, and thanks
to Mr. Aldeman Combe,the Lord Mayor, the ?lover, and Se-
conder of the Resolutions were then proposed and carried, after
which the Court adjourned.
The Court was not very numerously attended, and the three
members, Curtis, Price and Shaw. were received with many
marks of disapprobation, particularly Sir J. Shaw, who was
Compelled to retire, amid hissing, hooting and groaning!