The National Register.
London, England, 1820-11-12 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

the pe:si nal character of to alonliarifh a wetter of Indire
ference.—(llear, hear.) Once remove the Jinn—once
estairliah the tight of infinity bile the mend Cleo of the
sovereige, and there' *mild uever be wanting persons to
iniftertahe *eh inlitiries, aid by-them to endarter and
convulse the cosintry. The Noble Marquis now made an
eloquent appeal to those of their Lordships who might be
disposed to vote for the second reading of the Bill, in
the hope that it might afterwards be mitigated ; and
maintained, that to rely on any such hope, would only
lead to irreparable inconsistency. Up to this moment the
House stood clear of imputation : a few hours will decide
whether they would send down their names to posterity
with the infamy of having, on a bare presumption, passed
an act to degrade and to punish a Sovereign of their
country !—( His Lordship sat down amidst loud cheers).
The Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND could not con-
sent to give a silent vote on so painful and important a
subject. But after attending to the whole of the evie
deuce, to the speeches of Counsel, and to the arguments
of Noble Lords, he felt in his conscience convinced that
a long course of tudecent familiarities and of adulterous
interconse had subsied between the Princess of Wales and
her servant Bergaini. With this impression he could not
consent that her Majesty should remain Queen Consort of
England, and at the head of the females of this chaste
and moral country. He, therefore, felt no hesitation in
voting for the Bill as it now stood, and must therefore give
his vote for the second rending.
Lord HOWARD would not consent to give a verdict
against her Majesty on the evidence of Dumont, Majocci,
Itsstelli and arieclii,ell of whom were discarded servants,
Krees Wad been compelled to give evidence against the
Queen, and the Baron d'Ende, who would be an evidence
for her Majesty, had not been brought ever to this coun-
try. Taking into consideration these facts, he could not
vote for the Bill. This was a legislative measure, and,
without yielding to popular clamour, lie must say, that no
law that was very objectionable should be enacted. The
House of Commons, be believed, would never pass the
Bill, and deeming it inexpedient, and that the charges
bad not been proved, be would vote against the second
reading.
The Earl of ENNISKILLEN.—" My Lords, basing
been one of those who voted with the Noble Earl at the
head of theTreasnry on the first reading of this Bill, and
having attended to the whole of the evidence, and en-
deavoured to understand it, I conceive it to be such a
mass of contradiction and suspicion, that I would nut con
vict any person on it, and,therefore, I give my vote against
the second reading."
Lord CALTHORPE was not surprised that, on a ques-
tion which, front its very nature, admitted of every shade
of moral and political consideratiou, Noble Peers should
differ in the particular view they took of it. Had the
case against her Majesty beep fully proved, and thet her
conduct hail been as liceutione as it was represented, yet,
UlliCbS it had been proved that she had voluntarily re.
signed her connubial rights, which was not the case, lie,
even then, must think that the present was not the proper
mode of proceeding! He would usk their Lordships if
this was the time to expose Kingly power; or to pass a
Bill that would throw odium on his Majesty its a husband,
as a King—or as the head oldie state. Was this the time
to ask the Royal Assent to a measure of such au impor-
tant nature as the degradation of the Queen Consort of
the Throne it Under such circumstances, lie could not'
vote for the Bill, or suffer it to go a single step farther to-
wards its conclusion. His Lordship concluded by de-
claring his determination to vote against the Bill.
Tire Mai quis of sTmToitt), in a short speech, said
he would vote against the second reading of the Bill.
Lord DE CLIFFORD considered the whole of the es i-
dence for the prosecution tended with falsehood—that in
lookine at the question, he could not help ;Wye; ting to the
diderences which had existed for several years between
the accused and the illustrious personage must newly allied
to her—and that enouek bed been stated to prove that her
Majesty could hut remain in this country with advantage and
comfort to herself. He valid not but feel that ties Bill
would be rejected in some stage or oilier ; (Loud cries of
hear !) and, in his opinion, it would be adviseable to get rid
of it at the present moment—( Hear, hear.)—llis Lordship
coucluded with declaring his resulatiou to vote agenist the
second rending of the Bill.
Lord GRANTHAM said that 011011 this great question lie
differed (ruin those with whom he genteelly voted. It built
been said at the beginning of these proceedings that the
house snould be governed in their deci,iou by unsespected
evidence.—(llear, hear.) He had attended to the evidence
most minutely, but could not give it that cheracter.—( Heir)
—lf the case were a common one, upon which a verdict of
Guilty or Not Guilty were to be pronounced, he would have
to consider that there had been a great deal of contradictory
evidence ; but he would also have to took at the grave lad
heavy anspicions with which the accused 'was over wheline.l.
Although lie would say hut content, lie could not lay his
hand upon his tweet aud say Not Guilty.—(hear, hear.)
Lord LILLSSINGTON was determaied to vote against
the second reading of the Bill.
Lord GOSFOR said, to pursue the measure would
be, in Lis opi 33333 n, extremely inexpedient. Ile was
not afraid of popular clamour, but lie felt convinced, that
the feeling or the loyal part oldie comiminity was decidedly
against tee measure.—(hour.)—lle could not see how any
man could vote for the Bill without the Divorca clause—
(Dear, hear)—und he could not see how any mail could
vote fur the Bill with that clause.—(A laugh, and cries
of hear, liens.)—lle ended by slating that lie would
vote against the second wading.
The Duke of ATHOL assured their Lrupships he never
rose with so heavy a heart. He html attended to the evt-
. deuce and the argunieute and lie must suy, that lie considered
the Queee's guilt proved by her own evidence. If he did mot
state this to the House, feeling es lie did, lie slistild nut think
himself worthy to remain within the wens of Parliament.—
' Ile hoped tee Bill e mad he teed a second time, and he
should do all in his pouter to r treet that object.
The Duke of S 9 it EItME7 expressed his dissatisfaction at
the eviden.'e against the Queen, and reprobated the inter-
ference of Foreign Puaers, who had not mily been employed
ohteiu evidence siktititit her eleicsty, bet to withhold
evidence le her favour.—(Hear, hear )-1 celled se
the House to consider that her Royal Itigline%s wvis n foreien
Princess, and had heel educated abroad ; nit.l that her outli-
ners hail been uotorious for ;liter freedom. Ile wheel tea that
her ciindurt had beret extraordinary, imprudent, awl hardly
to he accounted for; but there was 'melee; in the evi•
deuce which could lead to a conclusion of guilt. The Noble
Duke concluded by stating that tic dissented ultre;etate from
the Bill.
Lord GREN VILLE WO bvund to my t'idt afte. a long


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