The National Register.
London, England, 1822-06-30 00:00:00

E NATIONAL REGISTER

of rewarding themselves into their own handy, and deprived
the Crown of that prerogative whieb the Crown had heretofore
enjoyed. The provisions in this bill were also of a moat ex-
travagant, kind for by it the Secretary of State, who had been two
years in office, wits to have 3,11001. a year, whilst • Judge
must be Chief Justice fifteen years before he was entitled to
2,00001. a year. The hon. member concluded by moving reso-
lutions expressive of these sentiments, and duclarieg that this
act ought to be repealed.
Mr. BANKES moved as an amendment that the other orders
of the day be read.
Mr. G. BEN N ET did not believe that the House of Commons,
even constituted as it was, would here voted a pension 43,0001,
to Lord Sidinouth. It was painful to allude to particular indi-
viduals, but Le felt it his duty to declare, that from the hapless
day when Lord Sidinoutb quitted the chair of that House to
become a prime minister of this country, fur which situation,
point of ability and talent, he was no more qualified than any of
the door-keepers of the House, down to the present time be
had done nothing to deserve such a reward as that which had
been bestowed upon him.—(Cheers.)—It would be very con-
sistent in those who were pleased with the approbation which
had been bestowed upon the Manchester massacre—who ap-
proved of the circular letter respecting libels, and of the spy
system—it would be very consistent in those persons to sup-
port a proposal for gi►ing the pension to the noble Lord ; but
lie and others who thought with him that all those acts tended
to bring the government into contempt, and to put in issue the
peace MA tranquillity of the coma'', would never have cos•
twitted thus to vote away 30001. of the public money.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, he would assert
that • more able and efficient minister of the Crown had not
cvisted than he had proved himself. By his talents and exer-
tions he had contributed mainly to the salvation of the country
in an hour of danger and peril. Having these opinions with
respect to the character and talents of his noble friend, it was
not without feelings of disgust that lie heard the gross attack
upon him, in which lie had been compared to one cf the door-
keepers or that House—a compari-ron to which, in the ordinary
courtesy of one gentleman to another, uo gentleman of education
ought to have been submitted. (Cheers from the ministerial
side.) Such language never ought to base been used, as it was
never called for, in the observations of one gentleman upon the
political conduct of another. Taking all the circumstances into
consideration, it was not without feelings of great disgust that
he had heard some of the remarks, and as a gentleman or a
member of Parliament, he could not sit there without express-
ing his reprobation of language the most disgusting and dis-
graceful be had ever heard within the walls of the British Par-
liament.—(lmmense cheering from the ministerial side followed
time noble Lord's speech. In the midst of it)
Mr. BROUGHAM rose and eeitl—. I protest, Sir, against
the tone and language in which the noble Lord has presumed to
address a representative of the people in this House." (Loud
cheers froth, the opposition side.) " I protest against the prin-
ciple of this language; and I am surprised how any minister
should dare—(Loud cheers from the opposition reechoed from
the ministerial side. In the midst of the contending cheers,
which lasted for some minutes)—
The Marquis of LON DONDERRYrose to order, and said—
" When any Houourable Member uses the word, dare,' as
applied to any remark made by any other member in the
course of a preceding speech. I apprehend it is quite incon-
sistent with the order of Parliamentary proceedings. (Cheers
repeated on both sides.) If the term is applied to any obser-
vation used by ate, it is irregular ; for at the time of making
remark which could call fur such an expression, the him.
and learned member's duty was to have interrupted me, and
called for the objectionable word,. in order to have them taken
down, that the sense of the House might be taken on them.—
The lion. and learned member has neglected to do so, and I
now appeal to the Chair whether lie is regular in the expression
lie has used. (Cheers and cries of " chair, chair.")
The SPEAKER—As I am appealed to by the noble Lord,
must say, that it would not be consistent with the usual prac-
tice of debates if I were to interrupt honourable members in
the use of expreesions which may be interpreted with two
meanings—one of which would not he against the rules of de-
bate. Undoubtedly, if the use or the word " dare" were to
be interpreted in the sense iu which the noble Lord takes it, it
would be quite disorderly ; but the House will allow one to bay
that the term is one which is frequently used in debate without
any offensiv e intention on the part of the member speaking, and
no interruption is given. If, in the heat of debate, many ex-
pressions drop from members which may not bear the most mi-
nute investigation, I trust the House will not think it neglect
in the Chair not to call to order. (Hear, hear.) The reason is,
that on Seek occasions the chair would make an offence which
most probably was never intended. (Cheers.) 1 apprehend
that if the House has attended to the debate, they will recol-
lect that the expression u►ed by the 110 e. member (Mr. Banker)
in allusion to what fell from the lion. member for Shrewsbury
(Mr. If. G. Bennet). was used in the vs smith of debate, and
without any intention of personal °Weiler, and that the reply
given to it by the bun. member fur Shrewsbury was of • similar
character. This was the reason why I did not call to order at
the time, because I conceited that the words were out intended
to give offence, and therefore the interruption would be mine-

Mr. lIROUGIIAM.--Sir, I should bow to the decision of
the chair, if given against me, with the saute respectful de-
ference that I would now return thanks for its decision in my
favour, if, indeed, thanks could he required for the perlioni.
ance of a duty. Every twin who beard the expressions I used,
in reply to the language of a noble lord, mina have taken it in
same sense in which you, Sir, have taken it—that it was nut
meant offensively to any member. If the noble lord's inge-
nuity had not discovered it (which I excuse), his experience
at least in Parliamentary matters might to have taught him that
the term is applied, and has been applied again and again,
without any personally intention. I, Sir, used the term when
I heard a minister of the Crown presuming (fur I must not use
■ harsher word) to charge a representative of the people with '
using language disgusting and disgraceful ; but I will repeat
the sense of the term, though it may not be permitted to use
the sound—that whether it be presuming, or venturing, or
pleasing, (for to such critics of words I will give the whole
vocabulary of the English language, such as it is understood by
those who speak it, and by him who does not, and I will give
him his own vocabulary into the bargain), and I wiil say that
in this Mouse no man ever h:fore heard a 'ster of the
Crown using such epithets as "disgusting" and "disgraceful,"
as applied to the observations of my hon. friend (Mr. H. G.
Bennet.) There may be those who thought the subject to
which it referred disgraceful. I will nut say that I am one—
hut I am one as lio think that the use of such language by a
minister of the Crown is quite new in the House of Commons.
—((:heers.) I may be pardoned if I ►peak with warmth after
the attack that bad been made upon a fellow-member, and that
member my esteenieil, and valued, and dear friend, whom all
who know must esteem and respect for the amiable and exert-
.eiit qualities of Ilia heart.—' lieu, heat.) Heating sudi au