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

The LORD CHANCELLOR.—T apprehend that, ac•
cording to the ordinary course of proceediug, after the
seeond reading of a Biller this nature, the person who is
the object of the Bill has a right to be personally heard. It
is, therefore. for your Lordships to cousider whether tlii.
Protest is to be received as the Address of the ineividtiel :
as such, I conceive that it sney be received, but that as a
Protest it cannot.
Lord DACRE.—My Lords, I am aware of the difficulty
pointed oneby the Learned and Noble L ird on the Wool-
sack; but as it is admitted that her Majesty may be heard
personally, your Lordships, I ant sure, would nut wish to
press on a person of her exalted rank end Miamian, the
necessity of addressing your Lordships, bat that, iu some
forte, the Protest of her Nlajesty will bo admitted.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL thought, us this might be
the most convenient mode of her Majesty expressing her
sentiments, there could be nu oujec t i tttt s to receiving it ;
and, to prevent its being drawn into a precedent, some
entry on the Journals, stating it to be especial case, might
be made.
The LORD CHANCELLOR deemed it is ditty to stele
to the House, that the only way in which lie conceived the
Protest could be admitted, was, not as a Protest, hut as a
representation front her Majesty, instead of a personal
Address.
Lord L tUDERDALE begg, (1 to know front their Lord-
ships, whether, considering the context, that Al‘li cis
would have been received in the I letise as 1141 t Or 3 Pjlef!IIII
without interruption? Was it possible teat their Lore-
ships would permit themselves to be titres dais:feted lie
begged amid implored their Lettlseips to reerdlrct
own dignity; and, while they were ',minden any state-
ment to go upon their journele, to take care that it should
not convey any stigma upon their own character. (Hear.)
The Duke of NEWCAS•I'LE rose. He had, he said
beard some observations, intimating, that by an es post
facto law, some of their Lordships, who had been una-
voidably absent, were to he deprived of their most valua-
ble privilege, that of voting. Now he was determined to
maintain all his privileges, and be should du his duty cote
acientionsly, without fear of consequences.
Earl GREY said, the question before the House was
whether their Lordships should or should not receive the
Paper presented to them—a question which had nothing
to de with the Noble Lord's seutimeuts of the Bill.—
(Hear, hear.)
Lord CARNARVON said, the case was of such a natnre,
that the absence of any Noble Lord fur a single hour
might have been of great importance. Much, however,
in such circ 1111 l stances as those under which the teneen
laboured, insist be left to the discretion of their Lordships.
He was aware that the language of the Paver was, strictly
speakiug, objectionable, but great alto watte.. should tie
made for the painful situation i 3 which her Majesty was
placed ; and he trusted that the greatest latitude would
be given. He should certainly have been emelt better
pleased Viler Majesty had said, their Lordships had come
to a consideration of her ease under circumstances which
rendered it impossible that their minds should not be
biassed. (Hear, (hear.) He, at the saute time, must de-
clare, that if he had been on the Committee, he should
mot entertain a thought of voting, cotivinced, as he was,
such was hutnau infirmity, he cuuld nut but be an inadequate
judge—(Bear.)—Had he been Counsel for her Majesty, he
would lint have advised her to submit any more appeals to
the House ; afid ire could not help expressing his surprise at
• the fact that orate Noble Lords thought themselves at liberty
to come to a decision about the guilt or innocence of the
Queen, mid lit the 63111 e time to trample under their feet the
most vital principles of justice !—(Hear, hear )—He con-
demned the conduct of the Noble Duke (Newcastle), who
said that an es poet facto haw had been inade to prevent him
voting. Uutsecustolued to the forms of law, the Noble
Duke had, in the anxious discharge of his ilmy, trenched
*pun the most olivines principles of justice. Why, asked his
Lordship, had the Noble Earl opposite mince, at the coin.
mencernent of this proceeding, that the House should be
called over ? Why was it that no Peer was allowed to vote
by proxy ? Was it nut because no Pter was entitled
`to vote who did nut personally attend the investigation
of the case. When the Noble Duke claimed the right
of voting witliont hearing the defence, he was, its fact,
claiming to vote by proxy I it was to gill intents and
purposes the same thine. • die renthered well the words
of the Noble Earl opposite (Lord Liverpool); when he
moved the call of the House, lie had said, must empha-
tically, that he trusted no Noble Lord would presume to
give a vine ou the case who did nut hear the whole of the
evidence.--(blear.) The Noble Lord on the wuelseck,
too, hail assented to the principle, though he had some-
what qualified; he had said, dist if he were to be two or
three days absent dating the proceedings, he slimed nut
consider himself justified in voting on the bill.—(Hear,
hear). But did either of these Noble Lords ever con
template that any Noble Peer who shoald be absent, net
days, but weeks, who should not hear one word lit the
detence, should come down met -Ay, tint he was not only
ready to vote for the Bel, lint for the severest penalties
which tt conteiniel.—(Loud cheers). Ile thought that cons:der-
ing every thin.,, this was a case in which tile ilou,e could not
p.lax tau tuude front uny strict rules of practice, in favirir of
cite area rediatr.y. He saw nothing so Mien-nal in the Pimest,
as shouiti prevent its being received. The contents of it, as tar
us respected rn ate: of fact, were strictly tide; they were seeit
as all their lordships, es the whole country, must feel the force
of; he wedtel to tkon they mild seem be torgutten ; for. while
remembered the judicial charaeter of their I.untsiuis would never
again occupy that high situ Lion which it had heretofore main-
tamed.
Lunt DONOLU;H NlOlt 14: ha.l the same tealing oa tliesuikiect
with the Noble and Learned Lord on the Woolsack. After ail,
there was noihiug new in die protest; the unhy new ground of
objection we, that wine of thtir Lordships 1141 absented them-
selves during the defence, mud that of .e W.:, as OtijeCOoll
which must Live arisen at the etllll3l.':iet4l/e.it of these
preceedines.
Earl OBEY thought that the mischiefs threatened by this
proweding, were now be mid all hope lit remedy. It coaipille I
to attend he would ; but he del nut f•el disposed to take ash
further part tll these proceedings, except by giving a silent vote.
He considered the ob.:el:Lion 'wilt:Marl, strong which reapecteil
those Noble Lord., who Iced Umight it consistent with their
Neuter and duty, and had iecoaciled it to their ionscieneas, Otter
hearing tlicevi.tence the the pruiectitien, and not mac syllable lit
the the:nee—Meer, heat)—to give mew votes on quastent lit
this momentous nature. 11.: had no right to had faint with mese
Nuole Lords. They must answer to Gad and tu elm eueszieeces
fur the vote they had given.
The' Iteeoltatiou of the Lord Chancellor, as amended by Lonl
Lauderdale, that the protest of her Majesty received, was then
put and carried without a division.
On the Order of the Day being reed for the House resolving
itself into a Co 11111 l ittee,
The Earl uf DAIteILLY said, he Would nut long detain their