The National Register.
London, England, 1817-03-03 00:00:00

MR. HUNT'S PETITION

When strangers were re-admitted, we fonnd the Clerk
reading a Petition from Mr. Huai, jostifying himself and the
Spatield4 Meeting against the representations in the Report
of the Secret Committee. Ordered to lie on the table.

HABEAS CORPUS SUSPENSION BILL.
The Order of the Day fur the second reading of the Habeas
Corpus Suspension Act was then read.
Lard Sip:not:an theu rose, and observed, soveval Noble
Lords had complained that the Committee appointed to exa-
• the papers communicated N the House, by order of the
Prince Regent, bad not laid fuller itiformation before the
itouse. A moment's reflection would convince their Lord-
ships that this could nut have be done without exit( mu
iluoger to those persons who hadlgiven information. The
Committee had reported, that a combiaation, having for its
object to overturn the Government, existedin the metropolis;
that it was not confined to the metropohs., but extended also
into the manufactining districts. tpon this information their
Lordships would have to proceed,. it-could not be unknown
to their Lordships, that for years past there had been a ma-
lignant s:,irit alive amongst the peoph of this comnry, which
had delighted in maiprifying the victories of the enemy, and
representing his defeats us triumphs. Seditious publications
were widely disseminated, and eldirii wttee established in vs-
rions parts of the country, whielh hid the same object in view.
Meetings had been held, and adjourned from time to time :
•listurbancca had taken place on the 'Zit December. He was
nma of the last men who would introduce the military power
where the civil power could act offectuallY , but on this occa-
sion it bail been deemed absolute!) necessary to employ the
miiitery in aid of the civil power. The result Witt known.
Some persons had been appreheuded and eonnnitteti for trial.
One thing he must say, that lie was decidedly alpinist insti-
tuting trials for high treason, except where a clear case was
made out. —Pear, hear.—The Report then went on to state
an oninion that treasouable practices w ere still going on, and
recommended the adoption of some measeire on the occa-
sion. It would be recollected that an attack was made on his
Majesty when going to the Hine of Parlimueut, the circum-
stances attending which were similar to the atrocious attack
made recently on the Prince Regent. Oa that occasion a
measure was adopted for the better protection of hisMaiesty's
person. He was persuaded the House would now think it
tight to extend the same protection to the Prince Regent.
—Hear, Itear.—A ttenopts had been made to seduce our soldiers
and sailors, and sedition had been widely disseminated by
cloths and Meetings. At the time he had ahead), Itthasied to,
t Bill hail been passed to prevent seditious MI clings. It Was
proposed to renew that BM ; but this alone, he was convinced
would not be sufficient to meet the. evil; he grieved that he
lived in times when such ineasnres thus trenching on the
liberty of the subject Were necessary ; bat the time 01 that
necessity had suited. He asked for the Suspensian of the
Ha neasCorptis Act, for their Lordships own protection; lie
asked it for the protection of the other House of Pat liament ;
he asked tor it even in the spirit of the Habeas Corpus .‘et
itself—for the protection of the liberty of the sobji rt. The
Noble Lord observed, Inc had great pleasure in stating that it
would not be necessary to extend measure to ireland ;
its operation would be confined to great Britain.
The Mai quit of NVEI.t. est.t.v agreed that some measures
necessaly ; and as tar as the hall went to prevent
ut•etings and adjournmants of those mectins, it had his sitp-
pus, as wo.ll as any nsea:ure tufting to the pre.rnationikod

safety of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent; but he could
not go the length of agreeing to the suspension of the Habeas
Corpus Act. He felt himself bound in his conscience to say,
that he had not at present had such evidence laid before him,
as would jnstify his going that length.
Lord LIVERPOOL observed, that
which justified the suspension of th
believed the present case did ; and
of the measure, be now called on 1
vernment with this extraordinary pi
Lord GREY contended, that the
was an unnecessary attack upon the .
He contended, that the disaffection
country, was the offspring of distress,
peace which had been concluded or
agreed with the Noble Lord, that
and their illustrious and immortal •
cerned, the peace had indeed been
surate with the glory of our army
been the disgrace attending the T
The Noble Lord then entered into a
country, and of the arguments of th
He observed, he bad a stake in the country
desirous as any man could be to transmit
therefore, if lie opposed this Bill, he 'l' '
ness that it was unnecessary, and
state of the country. He contended, s.
conspiracy was known, the conspirators
and the existing laws, to which he
delivered over, were fully equal
new regulations were adopted.
comprised in a small space. lie
should be held, during the sitting
certain distance of the House • and
that all the laws which had been
safety of the King, should be
Prince Regent.
'ie Dole of SUSSEX said, he was able to speak to some of
the circumstances attending the coaspiracy iu Spa fields. The
subscription raised for defraying the expences of printing.
/Lc. on that occasion amounted to the enormous sum of 101. ;
the sum of 51. 10s. was to have hero paid for the waggon; a
that sum 31. was paid ; 10s. remained unpaid till this day.
The ammunition which was put on board that waggun amounts
ed to about 50 balls, and a pound of powder not one of the
balls fitted the pistols which were stowed in the waggons ;
and this was the whole provi•ion made by the conspirator' for
this notable conspiracy. His Rival Highness observed, 'he
had every possible respect for the Noble Lords opposite;
hut he owed a paramount duty to his fellow ',objects ; and'he
could not, upon the case he had nem d made out, consent to
place the liberties of the people in their hands.
Lord Geess ILIA defended the Report, and contended that
the situation of the country was such as folly to justify the
proposed measures
The Doke of Gloucester was in favour of the memsu re.
Lord Ilut.t.Asustrongly condemned the measure, fur which
he could see no necessity.
The House then dish-ha—For the second reading, 150--
Against it, 3;—Majority in favour of the U.ll, II:).
The Bill was then committed, reported, read a third time,
and passed.—Adjourned at Half past Two.
wEuriesus AND THURSDAY.
No business of importance.
FRIDAY, rEn. 28.
A petition against the Habeas Corpus snspension bill was
presented from London, by Earl Grosvenor, laid on the table.
LANCASTER pErtnosi AGAINS V SEDITIOUS