The National Register.
London, England, 1821-05-13 00:00:00

TIIE NATIONAL REGISTER

purantit, and that the proposition row made, would leave
the honse in r onsiderable difficulty. He WAR favour-
able to the publication of their report?, and to the freest
rcuoirks wit them ; he thought they were calculated to be
o. the ;:reat.st use. But to to the r emarks in question, they
is ere scalid:ilous nod merited 81-: iiiiveri,t sisals' ion of the
horse, and he therefore moved that Cooper, and the primer,
Weaver, on account of his prevaricatious particularly, be
committed to Ni write. (Hear.)
4r. BANK ES bug:tested that the motion should he that
Cooper be committed to Newgate," he basing avowed him-
self to he the author." _

Sir W. DE CItESPIGNY complimented the conduct of
hl r. Bennett. Ile regretted that the re:411110101'S 14 el e not
discovered—that the screen had not brew thrown down, and
exposed dm real culprits. lie moot cordially seconded the
motion.

Lord NUGENT said the house had got out of n more dif-
ficult dilemma last session, occasioned he motion of Sir
J. Newport, respectiiirt the Lail:, holme address, inserted in
The Garettc. That breach iif privilege wits of the grossest
character. That rase pointed out the course that might he
pursued. As that case was passed over he thought it was
most ungracious to propose to visit su severely those poor
prevaricating wretch a whu laid appeared at the har.—
(Hear, hear.)—Who the skulking assassin of an author was,
thank (mod, he kntis not—but lie certainly was aeailist tile
motion; and he moved as an amendment, that Cooper be
called to the Mir, reprimanded, and itischargeil.
Mr. 110131110 USE seconded this amendment.

The Marquis of LONDON DERRY had obtained what
lie desired, time to coteider the question; but he was sorry
that a learned gentleman (Mr. Scai lett) had lent himself to
countenance any speculatiims of the world, as to any bidden
ant hots.—llear, hear.—Ho was also sorry that a gallant
general had followed in the same cour e. As to attacks on
bosom' in female virtue, he would not countenance them;
but he could not give credit to that warmth vs hich ciiiild only
be aroused by attacks on friends, without being distio bed by
attar ks on foes. When torrents of libels were directed
ngainst some of the hest characters and dearest interests of
the country, he should have given credit to the opposition,
if he hail seen a display of what lie should have called 131 itish
; but in the case of the attacks on a right hon. friend
(Mr. Canning) there was no such severe proceeding.
The minutes of that case were read—Lord Londonderry
moving us an attic-ailment, that Cooper be committed to the
sergeant at aims.
Mr. SCA RIETT explained. He thought it was right to
have brought the case forwrd; it had been said that ano-
ther must have written the paragraph in question. He was
desirous that such rumour should be proved to be false. As
to writing fur party, if it were done honourably, he should
have ;to fault to find with it ; but if character was attacked
for party purposes, it was then to be condemned. If it were
desired to write down the liberty of the press, this paper
seemed to be pursuitig such course—certain it was, that it
could he written by no gentleman. 'The libel in question
evinced design; it smelt of blood ; and it seemed to be
desired to provoke parties to extremities. If that were not
a Wench • privilege, never let them vindicate their privi-
leges again. As to the case respecting Mr. Canning, lie
could not admit that there was any similiarity between them;
that was simple misrepresentation—was nut the libel in
question much worse?
The Marquis of LON DONDERRY explained. He was
glad that his warmth hail drawn froth the disavowal of the
lerinsed gentleinar ; he wished the house not to deal with
this question as one of party. As to the libel on Mr Can-
ning, it really led to a message; therefore there was not so
much difirence between the two libel , as both were calcu•
listed to promote extremities.
Sir R. FLItGUSON denied that lie had acted from party
motives; he wished the noble mai qais would look to his own
invitees before be spoke of those at other persons. Ile had
expressed au honest indignation of the new system of scan-
dalising arid libelling tan women of England. (Cheers.)
Mr. C. W. WYN N said, it was one of the worst peculi.
:mute to allude to the number of libels; there had been
libels that were ditgrocerui to the country. As to the libel
on Mil Canning, de ii/OUZIIt it had been dealt with too
leniently ; he thought it was impossible that misapprehension
alone could have produced the report. lie verily believed
that the weak lenity disp:ayed on that occasion had tended
to produce what Wi1111415,i (implanted of. It %sus time to
cheek ihi be libels. It 1411 i not the first instance lately vi here
members had beet', in comments, charged with ;laving becu
isitiiiiidated to make apologies.
Mr. WARD said that nu worse notion could get abroad
than that it was safer to attack gentlemen on one side rathe r
than on the oilier; therefore he was for dealing out an equal
measure of justice. As to the two libels, he thou; st that
on lir. Coniiing the %%lost of the two ; iaar it did not sileiik
of one iiiitividual act, hut of Ilse character of an bun. mein-
ber's life and mini.

Lonl3. RUSSI..I.I. observed, that in eases of privilege
le.tst punishment was the hest. As to Mr. Canning. it
could be remembered that he had spoke's of the " revered
and ruptured Ogden ;" he defied the unhle lord to mention
any paper on the other bide that Attu(' ked private character
like the John Hull.

Mr. C. HUTCI-lINSON maintained, that there •vas no
similarity between the two caste, that of Mr. Cioniing„
and the one !lOW before the house. The evidence adduced
at their bar in the former instance gave satisfaction to the
whole house; it was that of an hotionialde min. It was
not to be compared with that of the prevaricating per-
sons who had appeared on the present occasion.
Several tither members delivered their sentiments, after
which the how :0 divided, when the numbers were—For
the *notion of Lord Nugent, that Henry Fox Cooper be
committed to the custody of the sergeant at anus,
LI
For the amendment of Mr. Bet lug, that lie be committed
to Nesegate, 109—Majority for the amendment, $O.
The 5121,..1KE1t was directed to make out his warrant
accuriliagiy.
It was then moved and adopted without a division. that
R I'. Weaver had pebbly prevaricated in the evidence
given by him at the bar of the house.
Mr. W. SMITH moved that H. T. Weaver he called to
the bar, reprimanded by Mr. Speaker. and discharged.
Mr. C. WYNN moved, as all amendment, that H. T.
IVeaver be committed to New gate.
Upon this question the gallery was cleared, a division
followed—For the original mown, y7—Against it, 31—
Majority fur commitment, 7.
NV lien again admitted, we found the house engaged in
discussing a pluposition for printing the evidence, that
the house might ascertain whether there had been ally
prevarication coininitled by Messrs. Arrowstnith and
Sliackell ill then es idence.
Sal U. LON( i said, lie had heard the evidence of these
individuals, aid did bet tiLe tau any thing which led him

to support this motion. He thought the house would
best consult its own honour and dignity by proceeding no
further.

The ;caller), was cleared, but no division took place,
and the soecestion of Sir C. Limit was adopted.
Ottoa.tactt ESTIMATE 3.—When again admitted,
we found

Alt.. HUTCHINSON on his leg., speaking on the
question fur the home going into a comeniti e of supple,
to take into consideration the ordnance estimates. The
hon. member adverted to the notice which he gave on a
former night, of his intention of calling the attention of
the house to the state of Europe ; he would not, however,
enter into a detailed statement on that subject now, but
give notice that he would, on the 22d instant, submit a
motion on that subject.
On the question for the Speaker leaving the chair,
Mr, HUME entered at CollSidulable Irngth into a review
of the present expendititte tinder the head of ordnance
department, which he contended was excessive. He con.
chided by moving a string of• resolutions, containing a
comparative statement of the ordnance estimates in 1791,
1794, and 1193, aid the years lel7, lelB, and ISI9, and
recosuntending to the house to adopt every possible spe-
leaving the chair, and proposed, as an amendment, seve-
ral resolutions, containing a comparative view of the
expenses of the ordnance depai intent at different periods.
cies of redoction.
On this amendment the house divided, and the numbers
were—For the amendment, 36—Against it, 110--Majo-
rity, 51.
The Speaker having left the chair,
Mr. WAHL), after a very long explanatory statement,
moved a grant of 43,0001. to the master•general, officers,
and clerks in the Tower and in Pall-mall.
Mr. I'. MOOIIE said, that whenever he bad the honour
of being in that house at the hour of 12, lie would arrest
the progress of supplies both for the health of his Ma-
jesty's inioisters and his ono (a laugh), that they might
take some reit eshment and repose. He moved that the
chairman report progress, and ask leave to sit again.
'the motion was at once agreed to.
Some other orders of the day were then gone into, but
Mr. Hume moved the adjournment of the house, and Mi.
Y. Movie intimated his resolution to move the adjoin
meta of the house hereafter whenever it was past twelve,
whether suppiie s or any other subject were before it.
Adjourned at half past one.